The Story - KING LEAR
(written c.1605-1606)

Lear, King of Britain, is aging and decides to divide his kingdom up between his three daughters, giving the most bounteous piece to the daughter who proclaims her love the most. The two eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, each claim to love their father more than the other and are given their share. However, Cordelia, the youngest and most beloved of Lear's daughters, speaks nothing, saying she loves him "neither more nor less than the natural bond of daughter to father dictates." Furious, Lear disinherits Cordelia and divides the remaining kingdom between Goneril and Regan, planning to live alternately with each. The Earl of Kent, a loyal friend, tries to stop Lear, but he will not listen and in turn banishes Kent. Cordelia, now without a dowry, marries the King of France and leaves with him.

Edmund, illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, plots against his younger, legitimate brother Edgar in hopes of gaining all of Gloucester's inheritance. He convinces Gloucester that Edgar is planning to kill him and writes a letter in Edgar's hand confirming this. Edmund then cautions Edgar of his father's anger and urges him to flee for his life.

Kent refuses to go into exile and instead disguises himself as a new servant to the King in order to keep watch over him and his wicked daughters. While residing at Goneril's castle, Lear is insulted by his daughter and ignored by the servants. Outraged at how he is being treated, and with his honest Fool in tow, Lear leaves to seek help from Regan, sending Kent ahead to deliver the notice of his arrival.

When Kent meets up with Regan and her husband, the Duke of Cornwall, at Gloucester's castle they lock him up and restrain him for the night. As intended, this infuriates Lear and he demands council with Regan and Cornwall. When he complains about Goneril's poor treatment, they are not responsive and Lear realizes they are conspiring against him. Enraged, Lear, Kent and the Fool head out into the wildly stormy night.

Lear and his Fool shout through the raging weather until Kent can urge them into a shelter which is occupied by the noble Edgar, disguised as poor mad Tom. Inside the hovel Lear is showing more signs of madness, but Gloucester arrives with word that the daughters are plotting against the king's life and they must flee to Dover. Meanwhile, evil Edmund has convinced Cornwall that Gloucester has been assisting the invasion from France. Cornwall captures Gloucester and tortures him by removing his eyes, only to be mortally wounded by one of the servants.

Edgar finds his blind father alone and, without revealing himself, saves his life. Cordelia, who has arrived in England with the French armies to fight her sisters, finds her father and stays by his side. Meanwhile, the duke of Albany hears of the cruel nature of his wife, Goneril, and denounces her. Edmund becomes the object of both sisters' lustful advances as he takes on the role of commander of the English army.

Lear and Cordelia are captured by Edmund and are sentenced to be executed. When Albany confronts Edmund with his wrongdoings, all begins to unravel. However, this is not before Goneril poisons Regan and then stabs herself when her own crimes are revealed. Edgar goes into combat with Edmund and mortally wounds him. Cordelia is hanged and Lear's death quickly follows. In the end only Edgar and Albany are left to bring stability to the kingdom again.

THE STAGING

The staging is set in the not-too-distant future when relations between Great Britain and France have faltered. International policy is as fragile as the mind of a monarch who struggles with the ideas of security and responsibility at the end of a long life. Director James Fagan Tait sees Lear as a king who had become impeded by his health, perhaps with an illness that many elderly face today. The production is supported by a music and movement ensemble that reflects the "house music" and repression of the 1980s, another period of fragility in Great Britain.