Lear (play)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Lear'' is a 1971 three-act play by the British dramatist
Edward Bond Edward Bond (born 18 July 1934) is an English playwright, theatre director, poet, theorist and screenwriter. He is the author of some fifty plays, among them '' Saved'' (1965), the production of which was instrumental in the abolition of the ...
. It is a rewrite of
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''
King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...
''. The play was first produced at the
Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...
in 1971, featuring
Harry Andrews Harry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was an English actor known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in '' The Hill'' (1965) alongside Sean ...
in the title role. It was revived by the
Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...
in 1982 with
Bob Peck Robert Peck (23 August 1945 – 4 April 1999) was an English actor who played Ronald Craven in the television serial ''Edge of Darkness'', for which he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor. He was also known for his role as game warden Robe ...
, and revived again at the
Crucible Theatre The Crucible Theatre (often referred to simply as "The Crucible") is a theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England which opened in 1971. Although it hosts regular theatrical performances, it is best known for hosting professional snooker's m ...
,
Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...
, in 2005 with
Ian McDiarmid Ian McDiarmid (; born 11 August 1944) is a Scottish actor and director of stage and screen, best known for portraying the Sith Lord Emperor Sheev Palpatine / Darth Sidious in the ''Star Wars'' multimedia franchise. Making his stage debut in '' ...
. Bond, a
socialist Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the e ...
, was attempting to reverse modern trends which focused on the Shakespeare play as an artistic experience, at the expense of more practical elements of social critique. By creating a politically effective piece from a similar story, he was more likely to cause people to question their society and themselves, rather than simply to have an uplifting aesthetic experience. According to one critic, his plays "are not meant merely to entertain but to help to bring about change in society." Also, according to Hilde Klein, "Bond argues that Shakespeare gave an answer to the problems of his particular society, which is not valid for our age." In Bond's play, Lear is a paranoid
autocrat Autocracy is a system of government in which absolute power over a state is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject neither to external legal restraints nor to regularized mechanisms of popular control (except perh ...
, building a wall to keep out imagined "enemies". His daughters Bodice and Fontanelle rebel against him, causing a bloody war. Lear becomes their prisoner and goes on a journey of self-revelation. He is blinded and haunted by the ghost of a Gravedigger's Boy, whose kindness towards the old King led to his murder. Eventually Lear, after becoming a prophet, makes a gesture toward dismantling the wall he began. This gesture leads to his death, which offers hope as an example of practical activism. The play also features a character called Cordelia, wife of the murdered Gravedigger's Boy who becomes a
Stalinist Stalinism is the means of governing and Marxist-Leninist policies implemented in the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953 by Joseph Stalin. It included the creation of a one-party totalitarian police state, rapid industrialization, the theory o ...
-type dictator herself. ''Lear'' features some punishing scenes of violence, including knitting needles being plunged into a character's eardrum, a bloody on-stage
autopsy An autopsy (post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death or to evaluate any di ...
and a machine which sucks out Lear's eyeballs. The play's emphasis on violence and brutality was mentioned in mixed reviews by top critics. Although some critics praised its message against violence (and its cast), others questioned whether the play was convincing enough to garner the reaction it sought from the audience.


Original production

The English Stage Company presented the play at the
Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...
, where it opened on 29 September 1971, directed by
William Gaskill William "Bill" Gaskill (24 June 1930 – 4 February 2016) was a British theatre director who was "instrumental in creating a new sense of realism in the theatre". Described as "a champion of new writing", he was also noted for his productions of B ...
. The cast was as follows: *Foreman -
Geoffrey Hinsliff Geoffrey Hinsliff (born 1937 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Don Brennan in '' Coronation Street'' from 1987 to 1997. He had previously played other characters in the same programme, in 1 ...
*1st Workman -
Matthew Guinness Matthew Guinness (born 6 June 1940) is an English actor. He portrayed the part of the Farmer in the 1976 film ''Nuts in May'', appears in Ridley Scott's ''The Duellists'' (1977) and had a small role in 1986's '' Lady Jane''. He has also worked ex ...
*2nd Workman -
Struan Rodger Struan Rodger (born 18 September 1946) is a British actor who has appeared widely in a range of supporting roles. He appeared briefly in ''Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?'' in 1978 but his first major film role was as Eric Liddell's ...
*3rd Workman -
Ron Pember Ronald Henry Pember (11 April 1934 – 8 March 2022) was an English actor, stage director and dramatist. In a career stretching over thirty years, he was a character actor in British television productions in the 1970s – 1980s, usually in bi ...
*Soldier -
Bob Hoskins Robert William Hoskins (26 October 1942 – 29 April 2014) was an English actor. His work included lead roles in films and television series such as '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978), ''The Long Good Friday'' (1980), ''Mona Lisa'' (1986), ''Who ...
*Lear -
Harry Andrews Harry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was an English actor known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in '' The Hill'' (1965) alongside Sean ...
*Bodice -
Carmel McSharry Carmel Evelyn McSharry (18 August 1926 – 4 March 2018) was an Irish character actress, best known for her roles as Beryl Humphries in '' Beryl's Lot'' (1973–77), a daytime ITV serial, and as Mrs. Hollingbery in ''In Sickness and in Health''. ...
*Fontanelle - Rosemary McHale *Warrington - Anthony Douse *Old Counsellor - George Howe *Engineer -
Gareth Hunt Alan Leonard Hunt (7 February 1942 – 14 March 2007), known as Gareth Hunt, was a British actor best remembered for playing footman Frederick Norton in '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' and Mike Gambit in '' The New Avengers''. Early life Alan Leona ...
*Firing Squad Officer -
William Hoyland William Hoyland (10 November 1943 – 15 July 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned fifty years. He appeared in several British television series. Career After a Quaker education at Leighton Park in Reading, Hoyland started out in a ...
*Bishop - Gareth Hunt *Duke of North - Eric Allen *Duke of Cornwall - Alec Heggie *Soldier A - Bob Hoskins *The Gravedigger's Boy -
Mark McManus Mark McManus (21 February 1935 – 6 June 1994) was a Scottish actor. He has played roles in British television series '' Sam,'' '' Bulman, The Brothers, Strangers,'' and ''Dramarama'' and starred in the feature film '' 2000 Weeks''. He was ...
*The Gravedigger's Boy's Wife - Celestine Randall *Carpenter -
Oliver Cotton Oliver Charles Cotton (born 20 June 1944) is an English actor, comedian and playwright, known for his prolific work on stage, TV and film. He remains best known for his role as Cesare Borgia in the BBC's 1981 drama series '' The Borgias''. Early ...
*Sergeant - Bob Hoskins *Soldier D at the Gravedigger Boy's House -
Ray Barron Raynor Alan Francis Barron (1 November 1940 – 13 February 2016) was a British actor. He typically played minor roles such as policemen or workmen. He was known for his work in films such as ''10 Rillington Place'' (1971) in which he played a ...
*Soldier E at the Gravedigger Boy's House - Geoffrey Hinsliff *Soldier F at the Gravedigger Boy's House -
Anthony Milner Anthony Francis Dominic Milner (13 May 1925 – 22 September 2002) was a British composer, teacher and conductor. Milner was born in Bristol, and educated at Douai School, Berkshire. He was awarded a bursary to attend the Royal College of Music ...
*Judge - William Hoyland *Usher - Gareth Hunt *Old Sailor - Matthew Guinness *Ben, a prison orderly - Matthew Carpenter *Soldier H, guard in the prison - Geoffrey Hinsliff *Soldier I, guard in the prison -
Richard Howard Richard Joseph Howard (October 13, 1929 – March 31, 2022; adopted as Richard Joseph Orwitz) was an American poet, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and translator. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was a graduate of Columbia University, w ...
*Soldier J, Guard in the Prison - Bob Hoskins *Old Prison Orderly - Anthony Douse *Wounded Rebel Soldier - Matthew Guinness *Bodice's Aide (Major Pellet) - Struan Rodger *Soldier J, Convoy Escort - Bob Hoskins *Soldier K - Convoy Escort - Geoffrey Hinsliff *Soldier L, Convoy Escort - Richard Howard *Prisoner 1 - Struan Rodger *Prisoner 2 - Ron Pember *Prisoner 3 - Derek Carpenter *Prisoner 4, later Prison Doctor - William Hoyland *Prison Commandant - Gareth Hunt *Soldier M, Prison Guard - Ray Barron *Soldier N, Prison Guard - Matthew Guinness *Soldier O, Prison Guard - Eric Allen *Farmer - Geoffrey Hinsliff *Farmer's Wife -
Marjorie Yates Marjorie Yates (born 13 April 1941) is a British actress best known for her role as Carol Fisher in the Channel 4 drama '' Shameless''. Yates was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, and studied at the Bournville College of Art. An early TV ...
*Farmer's Son - Anthony Milner *Thomas - Alec Heggie *John - Richard Howard *Susan -
Diana Quick Diana Marilyn Quick (born 23 November 1946) is an English actress. Early life and family background Quick was born on 23 November 1946 in London, England. She grew up in Dartford, Kent, the third of four children. Her father was Leonard Quic ...
*Small Man - Ron Pember *Officer - Gareth Hunt *A Boy - Ray Barron *And other soldiers, Workers, Strangers, Court Officials, Guards Sets designed by
John Napier John Napier of Merchiston (; 1 February 1550 – 4 April 1617), nicknamed Marvellous Merchiston, was a Scottish landowner known as a mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He was the 8th Laird of Merchiston. His Latinized name was Ioann ...

Costumes designed by
Deirdre Clancy Deirdre Clancy (born 31 March 1943) is a British costume designer. She has won the Olivier Award for Best Costume Design twice. She also won the BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design for ''Mrs. Brown''. She started working in the London theatre in ...

Lighting by Andy Phillips


Context

In the late 1970s, the British theatrical community was interested in the failure of the postwar socialist promise, and used historical drama to offer, in the words of Keith Peacock, “a clear reflection of the aspirations, activities, and worries of the Left during the 1970s”. According to Louise Geddes, Bond's ''Lear'' is "often read as part of the renewed interest in the historical epic, and viewed as a nostalgic response to a troubled time."


Critical reception

David L. Hirst wrote in his book ''Edward Bond'', “it may be that the excessive amount of realistic violence in the play—far greater than in any of Bond’s previous dramas and never equaled in any play since—considerably alienated reviewers and public alike when the play was first performed". Conversely, Ronald Bryden of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' reported in 1974 that ''Lear'' had by then become a "standard play in the European repertory" and garnered acclaim from critics, but that Royal Court audiences reacted unfavorably. Richard Scharine dubbed the events of the play "grotesque and difficult to believe." Charles Spencer wrote in ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...
'', "Unlike Shakespeare, Bond has a tendency to preach...his play lacks the richness and compassion of the Shakespeare original". In 1973, Mel Gussow of ''The New York Times'' derided the ending as "sentimental and unaffecting", and argued that ''Lear'' "is so determinedly a thesis play, an intellectual exercise, that there is scant consideration for drama". Gussow stated that the play "lacks transitions and credibility. ..Bond has allowed his philosophy to overcome his artistry." Walter Kerr compared it unfavorably to ''Saved'' (1965) in the same paper, and stated that the playwright "has here become so obsessed with the idea of violence that he has neglected to give it plausible, or even theatrically coherent, organization. ..I do not necessarily quarrel with what he says bout violence in society The trouble with “Lear” is that he is saying it: his characters aren't, his narrative isn't. Everything is imposed by the author from the outset; the ' people' on stage can only do his bidding.mindlessly,’ without personality or so much as rationalized purpose." However,
Benedict Nightingale William Benedict Herbert Nightingale (born 14 May 1939) is a British journalist, formerly a regular theatre critic for ''The Times'' newspaper. He was educated at Charterhouse and Magdalene College, Cambridge. His first published theatre review ...
wrote, "The play’s horrors. . . have their perhaps overemphatic place in plot and theme: they also, you feel, reflect authentic pain and anger....Yet another horror, you say; but not one that quite eradicates the impression of human nobility, briefly and precariously achieved." A critic for ''
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...
'' dubbed it "one of the most powerful plays to have emerged in years...Although its tragic scale is unimaginable except in the theatre, it is not primarily a play for 'theatregoers', but is meant for anyone concerned with our apparently hell-bent course towards self-destruction." In ''Comparative Drama'', Leslie Smith argued that "Bond sets up in his play a real, creative dialogue with the original, out of which comes a theatrical experience of impressive power, a ''Lear'' as seen by one of the most original and versatile dramatists of our time." In 1987, Ray Loynd of ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' wrote, "The play’s ending may not chasten you (as intended) but its bleak vision is not easily dismissed." Actor Paul Freeman stated in 1994, "Seeing Saved and Lear changed my life. They said something directly about my world - ond'sworld too - of surburban London." In a 2001 article for ''The New York Times'', Nightingale lauded the work as "grimly imaginative". Lyn Gardner of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' awarded Jonathan Kent's 2005 production a full five stars, praising the "dazzling directness of Bond's writing" and stating that the production "restores Bond to his place as the greatest of post-war British playwrights." Lynne Walker of ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' wrote that "Bond's glittering and brittle dialogue is searing in its intensity." Dominic Cavendish argued in ''The Daily Telegraph'' that Kent "can't hide the monotonous rhythm of some of the writing, which often steamrollers characters into flattened mouthpieces, but the bleak, barbed comedy is all there". The critic also said that "after a while, we become inured to the grisly spectacle, and more and more aware of the moral force of Bond's writing." Charles Spencer lauded one sequence as an "improvement" on Shakespeare's original sequence due to a "revoltingly ingenious" addition. ''The Independent'''s Paul Taylor dubbed ''Lear'' a "mighty riposte to Shakespeare's tragedy".


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lear (Play) 1971 plays Plays by Edward Bond Plays and musicals based on King Lear