I’m here to review the cancelled performance of Lear from Friday 9th June on its last night at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats before it goes to the Shakespeare North Playhouse until the 24th June writes Paul Smalley.
A soundtrack of Bowie, with a surprise inclusion of The Buzzcocks “What do I Get”, a cast of twelve female actresses some in a variety of roles and brought forward to the present day.Shakespeare really!!
Well yes this production of Shakespeare’s King Lear really works produced and presented by Unseemingly Women, Her Productions and Girl Gang Manchester.
Although some clarity is required early on with who’s who it soon becomes clear.
It’s well known that King Lear is ageing and wants to divide his kingdom between his three daughters with Cordelia his favourite being the main beneficiary but when she refutes his gift, the bitterness, greed and sibling rivalry of his other daughters Goneric and Regan comes forward not only between themselves but also to their father.
The strong Lear played exceptionally by Christine Mackie starts to fall into depression and eventually madness as his daughters excited him from his own kingdom.
Regan played by Teddy Oyediran is probably the only disappointment of the evening without probably expressing herself in the role, where as Gloucester played brilliantly by Fiona Scott who initially as little vocal involvement enters the role with movement and absorbing facial expression.
As her role becomes more prominent she excells with HR performance and dialogue to the plays requirements.
Othe notable performances were from Edmund (Haylie Jones) and Edgar (Alice Proctor).
Lear is violent at times but comedy and tragedy are always present, and the production does not shy from the roots of the story, fist fights, stabbings, strangulation, suffocation and eye gauging with a stilleto!
The production still as moment’s of heart redendering and sincere power of realisation when Lear reconciles with Cordelia even though madness as now set in.
At the final scene I’m sure there were tears in the auditorium as Lear and Cordelia leave the living world together.
Powerful and brilliant.
Support Hope Mill, they receive no funding and consistently produce remarkable productions.
