Avaliação por TheLittleSongbird

'King Lear' is not for everyone but it is a moving and powerful play to me, and Shakespeare's text is poetic and haunting with many emotions. It is not one of my favourites of Shakespeare's plays and it took a while for me to get behind Lear (which is dependent on how the role is performed), those being introduced to the play may be put off by him in the first act. That still doesn't stop 'King Lear' from being a powerful experience when done right, and likewise with Lear as a character.

There have been many fine productions of 'King Lear' and many fine interpreters of the challenging title role. Have always gotten a lot of enjoyment out of Brian Blessed (who is very experienced in Shakespeare and very, very good at it) and was interested to see how he would fare as Lear. He actually fares extremely well, surprisingly so considering Lear is the opposite of the larger than life persona of Blessed. And despite its flaws, the production has a lot to recommend.

Am going to get the not so good things out of the way. The production values are cheap, with the sets having too much of a Stoneage look and the costumes being very shoestring budget. Not to mention the hair and make-up, a bit disconcerting seeing Lear made up looking like a mix of an aged Cher and an 80s fantasy film hermit.

Wasn't crazy about some of the camera work, which was gimmicky at times, and how the sound never synced with the mouth movements were disconcerting and will confuse anybody watching 'King Lear' for the first time. The production itself is at its weakest with the final scene, which did feel rather dragged out.

However, there is as said a lot to recommend, as this all seems to indicate that this reviewer thought the production bad (it isn't). First and foremost it is wonderfully acted (which makes up half the rating), with Blessed giving his absolute all as Lear in a boisterous but also moving performance. Especially shining in his touching chemistry with Phillippa Peak's incandescent Cordelia. Robert Whelan is powerful as Gloucester, especially in the eye gouging scene which is as harrowing as one would expect without going for shock value.

Jason Riddington's Edmund is chilling, Hildegarde Neil's Fool is commanding and not overplayed and Iain Stuart Robertson's Kent has plenty of authority. Mark Burgess plays a more restrained than usual Edgar, but plays the role with finesse and brio all the same. Caroline Lennon and Claire Laurie are suitably unnerving.

Furthermore, the production is directed with total understanding of the text and also in good taste, nothing felt static, overblown, incoherent or gratuitous. The character interactions are spot on, especially Lear and Cordelia, and the production seldom feels dull excepting the final scene. Even with cuts, it doesn't come over as choppy either.

Overall, worthy and above average if inconsistent. 6/10.