Three hour film version of the recent stage production of Shakespeare's play starring Ian McKellen as Lear is a good representation of a great stage production. I saw this cast when they came to New York for a sold out run at The Brooklyn Academy of Music. To be honest I went for McKellen and not the play, which always seemed to elude me. However it wasn't long after the play started that I fell into it and for the first time truly understood what the Bard was getting at. Watching the cast on stage was like watching lightning. It was magical.
This production is probably as good a filmed representation of the show as we are likely to get. Stripped of the intermission and breaks for scene changes this play moves like the wind. While remaining theatrical, the show has been opened up with the addition of some sets and backdrops that bring the play closer to a real world setting. I'm not sure that it always works since it pulled me out of the play and the dark shadowy world of the castles where much of the play happens.
The performances are wonderful, with McKellen giving a stellar performance. I've seen several Lears and there is always a danger of doing something slightly wrong (Christopher Plummer's Lear started off insane and had nowhere to go) McKellen keeps the pitch right and we watch as the old fool totters into madness and beyond. Equally good is Sylvester McCoy as the Fool. Best known as the last Dr Who before the recent restart, his performance is a revelation as he makes you laugh while he breaks your heart. Its a revelation for those of us who never saw his stage work only his Doctor and the odd TV appearance.
One of the best Shakespeare adaptations to come down the pike it is a version that demands to be seen. Its a wonderful. If I have any reservations its that the film is not the play. This is not to knock the film, only that there is a magic in live theater that can't be captured, especially when the camera focuses your attention (one of the joys of the production on stage was the way things happened away from the central focus-things now lost as we are forced to look where director Trevor Nunn wants us to.) Again this is not to degrade this excellent production, its only to state that I think I would have liked this much more had I not seen the production in its original form. (Though to be honest I've seen this adaption a couple of times now and its gotten better with each viewing) When PBS, or whom ever, (it's a co production between Channel Four in England, WNET in New York and Nippon Television) runs this see it.
This production is probably as good a filmed representation of the show as we are likely to get. Stripped of the intermission and breaks for scene changes this play moves like the wind. While remaining theatrical, the show has been opened up with the addition of some sets and backdrops that bring the play closer to a real world setting. I'm not sure that it always works since it pulled me out of the play and the dark shadowy world of the castles where much of the play happens.
The performances are wonderful, with McKellen giving a stellar performance. I've seen several Lears and there is always a danger of doing something slightly wrong (Christopher Plummer's Lear started off insane and had nowhere to go) McKellen keeps the pitch right and we watch as the old fool totters into madness and beyond. Equally good is Sylvester McCoy as the Fool. Best known as the last Dr Who before the recent restart, his performance is a revelation as he makes you laugh while he breaks your heart. Its a revelation for those of us who never saw his stage work only his Doctor and the odd TV appearance.
One of the best Shakespeare adaptations to come down the pike it is a version that demands to be seen. Its a wonderful. If I have any reservations its that the film is not the play. This is not to knock the film, only that there is a magic in live theater that can't be captured, especially when the camera focuses your attention (one of the joys of the production on stage was the way things happened away from the central focus-things now lost as we are forced to look where director Trevor Nunn wants us to.) Again this is not to degrade this excellent production, its only to state that I think I would have liked this much more had I not seen the production in its original form. (Though to be honest I've seen this adaption a couple of times now and its gotten better with each viewing) When PBS, or whom ever, (it's a co production between Channel Four in England, WNET in New York and Nippon Television) runs this see it.