By Donna Herman
I can only advise going to see the current production of Shakespeare’s King Lear on Broadway at The Cort Theatre if you really want to see Glenda Jackson in the title role. She’s very good, but it’s a muddle of a production because Sam Gold, the director, seems to have thrown every idea he’s ever had at it and then left the room. Leaving all the actors to do their own version. It doesn’t make for a cohesive or particularly coherent presentation. If you’ve never been to a Shakespeare play before, don’t make this one your first. See my complete review here.
King Lear by William Shakespeare, Directed by Sam Gold, Original Music by Philip Glass
WITH: Glenda Jackson (King Lear); Elizabeth Marvel (Goneril); Aisling O’Sullivan); Ruth Wilson (Cordelia/Fool); Dion Johnstone (Duke of Albany); Russell Harvard (Duke of Cornwall); John Douglas Thompson (Earl of Kent); Jayne Houdyshell (Earl of Gloucester); Sean Caraval (Edgar); Pedro Pascal (Edmund); Ian Lassiter (King of France/Ensemble); Justin Cunningham (Duke of Burgundy/Ensemble); Matthew Maher (Oswald); Michael Arden (Aide to Cornwall); Stephanie Roth Haeberle (Old Man/Ensemble); Che Ayende (Ensemble); Therese Barbato (Ensemble); Daniel Marmion (Ensemble); John McGinty (Ensemble).
MUSICIANS: Cenovia Cummins (Violin); Martin Agee (Violin); Chris Cardona (Viola); Stephanie Cummins (Cello).
Scenic Design by Miriam Buether; Costume Design by Ann Roth; Lighting Design by Jane Cox; Sound Design by Scott Lehrer; Hair & Makeup Design by Campbell Young Associates; Casting by Caparelliotis Casting; Press Representative, DKC/O&M; Company Manager, Lizbeth Cone; Production Stage Manager, Kevin Bertolacci; Stage Manager, Lisa Buxbaum. Produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. Playing at the Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street, NYC. For tickets call 212-239-6200, or visit the Box Office in person Mon – Sat 10am to 8pm or Sun Noon to 6pm or visit www.kinglearonbroadway.com/#tickets. Running time three hours and thirty minutes with one intermission.
