Shakespeare Theatre Company's King Lear

[defenses]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 11:30am

I'm planning on getting tickets and wondered if anyone has seen it yet! If so, did you enjoy it? And what seats would you recommend?

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 11:59am

I have a ticket for the end of the run in April. Every production I've seen directed by Simon Godwin has been well worth seeing. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 12:05pm

Peter Marks in the Washington Post says it may be the best production he's ever seen of King Lear. Excuse the long link, but the article was gifted by Mr. Marks on Twitter to avoid the paywall:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/theater-dance/2023/03/03/king-lear-patrick-page-godwin-stc/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjIxOTUxMzgiLCJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjc3ODE5NjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjc5MTExOTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2Nzc4MTk2MDAsImp0aSI6ImU4ZTU5MWZlLTIzYTQtNGEwMy05MjY4LWVlNGZiZDJiN2NhZSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS90aGVhdGVyLWRhbmNlLzIwMjMvMDMvMDMva2luZy1sZWFyLXBhdHJpY2stcGFnZS1nb2R3aW4tc3RjLyJ9.wjA5Lzvrr_Fhp2t_v1wsO-S433KZVtYq8VcFv-9U-fo

Updated On: 3/6/23 at 12:05 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 12:05pm

Peter Marks says it might be one of the best LEARs he's seen.

Not that any of us NEED another Lear, but wonder if there could be further life for it in NYC? Not Broadway, but maybe TFANA or the Public or another nonprofit. How opulent is the physical production?

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 12:10pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Peter Marks says it might be one of the best LEARs he's seen.

Not that any of us NEED another Lear, but wonder if there could be further life for it in NYC? Not Broadway, but maybe TFANA or the Public or another nonprofit. How opulent is the physical production?"

Another Godwin production at TFANA would be nice. TFANA's workshop collaboration with Fiasco Theater wasn't exactly the opposite of a fiasco.

 

[yyys]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 12:15pm

https://dctheaterarts.org/2023/03/03/shakespeare-theatre-delivers-a-breathtaking-king-lear/

[akhoya87]

Posted: 3/6/23 at 12:30pm

I saw this on Saturday.  I didn't read Peter Marks' review until after seeing the show, but I agree with every word of it.  You feel every bit of Lear's power and anger at the beginning of the play, and his fragility at the end.  The way Page-qua-Lear mourns Cordelia's death -- you feel every ounce of his anguish and pain.  

But it's not just Page.  Craig Wallace as the Duke of Gloucester is also phenomenal.  Matthew Harris as Edgar started off a little light, but grew on me as the play went on.  Jake Loewenthal is staying booked and blessed.  Overall, the cast is very strong.

Well-choreographed fight scenes.  Also, so much blood.  I felt like it almost reached a Red Wedding level of gore.  (I was sitting in the second row aisle, so maybe that's why it was so vivid for me.)  

The actors use every bit of the theatre -- including the side aisles.  For me, the experience was unexpectedly immersive -- several members of the company (including Page) stood next to me while delivering their lines, so it was exciting to crane my neck up to see them.  (This is in STC's 7th Street theatre; I believe the main F Street theatre is undergoing renovations for the Jungle.)  

[defenses]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 10:44am

Wow! I am even more excited to go now. I don’t know much about Lear so I might have to read the synopsis on Wiki so I don’t get too lost.

Thanks for the heads up about the fight scenes, akhoya87! I was thinking about doing front row but I think I might have to go back a little since I’m not a big fan of gore.

[willep]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 11:00am

Wow this sounds incredible, I wish I could see it.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 12:08pm

It has now been extended through April 16. It did $100K in ticket sales in one day, which would be enviable for a lot of Broadway shows.

[Pasunepomme]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 2:14pm

I bought a ticket yesterday after reading Peter Marks' review. Although I really dug Page in Hadestown, I had convinced myself I didn't need to see another Lear so relatively soon after the Glenda Jackson production. What do I know? Clearly nothing. I'm looking forward to next Sunday.

[this_is_ridiculous]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:27am

avoid the front row - absolutely worth the trek. Patrick Page is doing incredible work. Hope this production has a future life. His performance deserves to be seen.. widely. 

Updated On: 3/10/23 at 12:27 AM

[Pasunepomme]

Posted: 3/13/23 at 1:06pm

this_is_ridiculous said: "avoid the front row - absolutely worth the trek. Patrick Page is doing incredible work. Hope this production has a future life. His performance deserves to be seen.. widely."

I bought row D - whew glad I snagged tickets when I did; it's no longer on TodayTix.

[George in DC]

Posted: 3/13/23 at 1:40pm

this_is_ridiculous said: "avoid the front row - absolutely worth the trek. Patrick Page is doing incredible work. Hope this production has a future life. His performance deserves to be seen.. widely."

 

I almost hate to ask  since my subscription tickets are in the front row but   ... why should the front row be avoided?

 

[yyys]

Posted: 3/13/23 at 2:21pm

stage is high?  I saw the Britney jukebox musical there (rush tix) and we had to look up...even the 2nd row is still too close.  

 

George in DC said: "this_is_ridiculous said: "avoid the front row - absolutely worth the trek. Patrick Page is doing incredible work. Hope this production has a future life. His performance deserves to be seen.. widely."



I almost hate to ask since my subscription tickets are in the front row but ... why should the front row be avoided?

"

 

Updated On: 3/13/23 at 02:21 PM

[George in DC]

Posted: 3/18/23 at 2:56pm

yyys said: "stage is high? I saw the Britney jukebox musical there (rush tix) and we had to look up...even the 2nd row is still too close.
 

For what ever it's worth, the theatre "Once Upon a One More Time " was playing was a different theatre. Shakespeare Theatre has two spaces within blocks of each other. The front row was perfect for this show.

 

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this production. Having seen many productions of King Lear, both live and taped, this is easily the best production. Also, over my almost half century of theatre going, this is one of the top Shakespearen productions I have ever seen ... Anywhere. Certainly better than what Broadway has produced over the last twenty years. The cast, led by Mr Page, is perfect all around. I don't want to single anyone else out, they are all just that good. If you are near the DC area, this really is a MUST SEE. I plan on going again in a few weeks.

 

 

Updated On: 3/18/23 at 02:56 PM

[this_is_ridiculous]

Posted: 3/22/23 at 1:32am

George in DC said: "this_is_ridiculous said: "avoid the front row - absolutely worth the trek. Patrick Page is doing incredible work. Hope this production has a future life. His performance deserves to be seen.. widely."



I almost hate to ask since my subscription tickets are in the front row but ... why should the front row be avoided?

"

oh - the stage is a bit high, but i mostly meant because i believe it is a splash zone

not sure there's a bad seat in the house though!

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 4/13/23 at 12:02pm

Now streaming on demand through April 16