Arizona Theatre Company & Beowulf Alley Theatre
'Lear' and 'God of Carnage' - worthy plays are complete opposites
But which one is better?
Oct 31, 2011
By Dave Irwin
TucsonSentinel.com
"Lear" is an abridged version of "King Lear," Shakespeare's complex tragedy of family and loyalty. It takes a certain amount of ego/hubris/cajones to edit Shakespeare, but only purists will object to director Michael Fenlason's thoughtful adaptation. Though he cuts a number of lines and several characters, Fenlason retains the language of the original text, including its blank verse cadence.
… the overall timing and interplay is excellent. In an effective re-write that highlights their evil, Goneril and Regan themselves blind the imprisoned Gloucester in a scene that demonstrates how creative choice, good stage blocking and a little fake blood can create a monstrous impact. Also, the final fight scene between Greengard and Guisinger as the Earl's sons was an outstanding display of stage combat skills and choreography.
Creatista/Scott Griessel
Jacob Brown as the Fool, Aaron Guisinger as Edgar, Breezy Giger as Kent and Bill Epstein as King Lear
Fenlason utilizes a young cast that draws heavily on the University of Arizona's outstanding theatre program. Four of the cast are current students or recent graduates, and Lear himself is played by University of Arizona English professor Bill Epstein in his seventh appearance on the BAT stage.
Particularly interesting were Alex Greengard as Edmond, the Earl's conniving bastard; Aaron Guisinger as Edgar, the Earl's legitimate son and rightful heir; Bree Boyd as Lear's haughty eldest daughter, Goneril; and Breezy Giger in a gender-bending performance as Lear's ubiquitous and loyal servent, the Earl of Kent.
Jacob Brown, as Lear's Fool, adds a comic note to the rage and mayhem, prancing and sing-songing his commentaries. Rounding out the cast are Kathleenn Cannon as youngest daughter Cordelia, Cody Davis as servant Oswald, Amy Loehrs as middle daughter, Regan, and Mark Klugheit as the Earl of Gloucester
Read the entire review here: http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/103111_lear_god_carnage/lear-and-god-carnage-worthy-plays-are-complete-opposites/
