NOTES: “King Lear” at BAM

The Royal Shakespeare Company is on tour at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater through April 29th with the U.S. premiere of their well-appointed 2016 production of “King Lear”, starring Sir Antony Sher as the titular character of a king descending into madness.  Director Gregory Doran presents a stately and unfussy production, and Sir Sher does a fine job in this titanic and much-coveted role, but it is Oliver Johnstone as Edgar—son of the Earl of Gloucester wronged by his bastard brother Edmund and outlawed—who stands out, giving a full-bodied and nuanced performance.  A refreshingly diverse ensemble is strong and intense, and the visuals are striking—towering brick walls, an ashy black deck, steel furniture, and illuminated glass boxes—making for an excellent, if straight-forward production of one of Shakespeare’s most-celebrated masterpieces.

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“King Lear”
The Royal Shakespeare Company
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Harvey Theater
651 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Running Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes (one intermission)
Opening Night: April 7, 2018
Final Performance: April 29, 2018
Tickets