Sunday, September 23, 2012

YPS King Lear Review

King Lear (Young People's Shakespeare)
Tour - The Nuffield Theatre, Southampton

Although the autumn season is just around the corner, the RSC's latest production has a festive feel to it. I was therefore interested in seeing this adaptation of King Lear, which is being aimed towards youngsters as an introduction to Shakespeare. This is also the first time I have seen a production produced under the RSC's Young People's Shakespeare scheme.

The idea of setting the story of an old king’s struggle against his daughters in a modern Christmas should have provoked a number interesting and radical aesthetic translations for the children. I imagined that Lear would see himself as Santa Claus as he gives out his lands to his daughters, or perhaps cursing Santa in a snowstorm. Indeed the jolly old Lear gives out his lands in the form of presents, whilst wearing a Santa hat, and later would be seen charging along in an imaginary sleigh with the Fool in a reindeer costume. However it soon becomes clear that the company is using a shortened version of the text, and the Christmas setting begins to feel like an after-thought. The Dover Cliff scene for instance, does not gel well in this setting.

Now even an abridged version for kids needs to show the full emotion of the characters in order for the story to be completely understood. Unfortunately, as Lear Paul Copley lacks the character’s range of emotions that drive his downfall. For example his tantrum when disowning Cordelia felt less than convincing. A number of the cast members were rather dull. One would assume the Fool would entertain the youngsters, yet Matt Sutton did not get any laughter. Some did stand out though. Tyrone Huggins played a kind Gloucester, whilst Dharmesh Patel was a modern Edgar who sported a hoodie while begging as Poor Tom.

There were some interesting ideas. Matt Sutton for one, played the Duke of Kent and the Fool combined. Whilst it avoids explaining the disappearance of the Fool by the second half of the play, it combined the two character's views on King Lear's decision to divide his kingdom. Basically these ideas were used to help downsize a rather large text.

The set is a basic one, comprising of some Christmas lights lining the edges of the acting space. Outside this space were two sets of coat-hangers and benches, where the cast changed and sat ready for their next appearance. Occasionally props, such as a Christmas tree and a calender, were adjusted in order to show the change of scenery and progression of time. Christmas tunes were used, some of which represented the events of the story, such as I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus used during the affair between Edmund, Goneril and Reagan.

After the production the audience was asked to think up a moment that stood out to them for a discussion with the cast. Silence emanated from a group of teenagers near me whilst I too struggled to think of a moment that stood out. The company had some interesting ideas, but they did not do a lot with them and the production boiled down to a shortened version of the text. Neither was the production engaging, since it lacked the pathos that motivates the play. Apart from helping them understand the story, I cannot see this production persuading young people to see more Shakespeare plays. This is worth a Restricted View.

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