King Lear

There were two reasons why I was looking forward to seeing the RSC's production of King Lear at the New London Theatre. The first was that was the play I did for my "A" Levels and I went with the school early in 1963 to see Paul Schofield in the title role. This was a performance I can still remember vividly today. Even the programme for this year's play mentions this landmark production. "Paul Schofield was only his forties when, for Peter Brook at the RSC in 1962, he overturned the traditional image of the part".

The other reason was that this time it was Ian McKellan as Lear, it having been nearly forty years since I saw him at the Theatre Royal in Brighton (see Blog of 7th May). This time he is totally convincing as a King who is already losing his marbles when he gives away his kingdom at the beginning, and eventually becomes totally deranged, as the result of this decision ends in tragedy.

All the acting was first class, particularly Sylvester McCoy as the Fool, William Gaunt as Gloucester and the wonderful Romola Garai as Cordelia. Here is a young actress who will make a big star. The direction was excellent, some of the effects quite shattering, especially when the hanging of the Fool was too realistic. This is when theatrical tricks surpass anything that special effects can do on the big screen.

Unfortunately, some of the dialogue was occasionally inaudible. But the action was ramped up in the second half and the time flew by, which it needs to in a play of over three and a half hours.

My favourite line comes from Lear as he meets the blind Gloucester. "Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see the things thou dost not". Nothing changes. Perhaps Lear was not mad after all, only pretending so.