By Ashlei Havili Thomas
While some may be intimidated by a piece like King Lear, New World Shakespeare Company and Kallisti Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, Utah not only take this show in stride but perfectly link it to the growing homelessness crisis in Utah’s capital. The intimate, black box setting at the Gateway Mall is a stone’s throw from the Road Home shelter, which the show’s proceeds will be donated to help. This grassroots-type production fits both the show and the needs of the community it serves, making Shakespeare come alive in a way uncharacteristic of many productions. With limited seating and standing room, this show is one easily missed, but do not make that mistake; King Lear will break your heart and make you reflect on how we treat those we should perhaps give a little more care.
King Lear is one of William Shakespeare’s bulkier tragedies, but often thought to be his greatest. The story unfolds with the titular character meeting with his three daughters to divide up his kingdom. As they each profess their love for him, he gives them shares of his kingdom. When he gets to his youngest daughter who he loves most, she honestly tells him her love, but refuses to expound or hyperbolize to win her share. Angry, he disinherits her. Lear splits the remaining third between the elder two women, and proceeds to do the same with his time, living with one and then the other. But his antics and band of knights soon wear out their welcome, and it becomes apparent that his daughters Goneril and Regan do not truly love their father as they cast him out to wander the wilds. In the secondary plot, Edmund, the illegitimate son of Gloucester, plots to become his father’s heir over his half-brother Edgar. He convinces his father that his brother means to kill him, and tricks his brother into fleeing for his life. There is no happy ending for anyone in this show; all three villains (Goneril, Regan, and Edmund) as well as Gloucester, Cordelia, and Lear die, leaving the smaller characters to clean up the mess.
Jon Turner is a marvel as Lear. His command of the language is unparalleled, and he performs perfectly as the regal king, the mad wanderer and the broken father with equal measure. When Turner is onstage, watching anyone else seems impossible. His voice and energy give life and character to this role while maintaining its integrity. Carlos Nobleza Posas is a delight as the treacherous Edmund. His gritty, tongue in cheek manner is a refreshing contrast to the more noble elements in the show, so much so the audience sometimes would rather cheer for him than the true protagonists. The part of the Fool is crucial to bringing some lightness to a show prone to being overly heavy, and Wendy Dang does that and more. Her off the cuff wit and sharp manner keep the audience from falling too contemplative or weary. I was also impressed by the three daughters, Goneril (Megan Chase), Regan (Sierra Trinchet), and Cordelia (Suni Gigliotti). Chase maintains a sharp, almost bitter edge as Goneril that complements the sickly sweet temperament of Trinchet as Regan. These both sharply contrast with the earnest love and fierce loyalty shown by Gigliotti’s Cordelia.
I enjoyed the overall passion and dedication of the cast. They work together seamlessly to bring a wonderful piece of Shakespeare to Utah. While I did feel the pacing dipped in places, the dogged energy of the cast keeps the audience entertained far beyond many other Shakespeare productions. Likewise, the lighting and sound design by David Bruner fit the show wonderfully. The lighting design lights the stage in blue and red, resembling an old-style 3-D image, adding to the theme of perceptions. The sound design incorporates many elements of jazz and folk music, with grittier tones that meld with the performances and other design elements to create a smooth collective. The fight choreography by Gigliotti and Kailey Azure Green is both sound and intense, a difficult combination to achieve with such a small space to use. All this is worked under the direction of Elise C. Hanson-Barnett to culminate in a truly restorative piece of Shakespeare.
King Lear is not a show for all ages. Listed in the program is this disclaimer: “King Lear depicts acts of violence and sexual situations. No one under the age of 18 without parental permission.” I agree wholeheartedly with that age restriction, but also feel the relevance and themes of the show still make it one to be encouraged and viewed. Not all Shakespeare adaptations work well; but I found New World Shakespeare Company and Kallisti Theatre Company’s performance to be superb. The reflective nature of the show gives us pause to consider how we treat those we might otherwise consider lesser than ourselves and calls into question our notions of homelessness, aging and familial responsibility. Come to this transformative performance of William Shakespeare’s King Lear by New World Shakespeare Company and Kallisti Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, Utah.
New World Shakespeare Company and Kallisti Theatre Company present King Lear by William Shakespeare
WTC at the Gateway, 124 South 400 W Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
April 25-27, May 2- 4 7:30 PM, April 28 3:00 PM
Tickets: $15-20
New World Shakespeare Company Facebook Page
Kallisti Theatre Company Facebook Page
King Lear Facebook Event
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