Recommended Links for King Lear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ZDo9dhNaE
This version of Act 2, Scene 4, from the PBS film version of King Lear directed by Trevor Nunn, shows a good performance by Ian Mckellen as Lear. Mckellen's gestures and manner of speech create a king whose age is visibly getting to him, for he loses what power he had left by the end of the scene. Lear's daughters, played here by Francis Barber and Monica Dolan, emphasize Lear's age, furthering fostering pity for him from the viewer. There is a particularly memorable part where, as Lear rages in agony at the betrayal of his daughters, he takes off his belt, as if to say he has been stripped of his manhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn9V3gtwMrc
This version of Act 3, Scene 2, again from Trevor Nunn's production, sports effective special effects to bring the storm during the scene to life. However, one almost doesn't pay attention to the storm itself when Ian Mckellen as Lear is also on screen. Now stripped of his regal attire, and with a tilted posture, the viewer can see the madness of Lear begin in this scene. The storm rather bluntly emphasizes this, but with Ian Mckellen's acting, the storm may not have been needed to get the point across, but it surely adds to the drama of the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHXS1AWCnQ0
This is Act 1, Scene 2 from the Trinity Theatre Company's production of "King Lear", directed by Francesca Gilpin. The stage and prop use are undeniably Shakespearean; meaning, there is little of it, if at all. The most notable distinction of this production is the costuming. It is not classical Shakespearean costumes, but rather more modern clothing, with Edmund wearing a leather jacket and form-fitting jeans. In comparison to Edgar in his khaki pants and sporting a book, Edmund looks quite villainous, fitting his sinister role in the play's plot.
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122
This page contains more in depth biographical information on William Shakespeare if
you wish to find out more about him. The information is interesting, enlightening, and there are links to the right of the biography leading to some of the most famous lines of Shakespeare's design, including the "To be or not to be" soliloguy from Hamlet.
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/kinglear/examq/meightaes.html
This page, and the whole site in general, provides thoughtful commentary on King Lear, particularly focusing on the role of the Fool. The commentary concisely summarizes the Fools role both as comic relief and as a voice of reason to Lear, saying time and again how foolish his decision making has been. The page further comments on whether the Fool is supposed to be played by a boy or a man, as the text examples certainly provide incentive for either possibilty. There is much to learn from this page, and the website in general. Links to other articles related to King Lear are provided below the commentary on the Fool.
This version of Act 2, Scene 4, from the PBS film version of King Lear directed by Trevor Nunn, shows a good performance by Ian Mckellen as Lear. Mckellen's gestures and manner of speech create a king whose age is visibly getting to him, for he loses what power he had left by the end of the scene. Lear's daughters, played here by Francis Barber and Monica Dolan, emphasize Lear's age, furthering fostering pity for him from the viewer. There is a particularly memorable part where, as Lear rages in agony at the betrayal of his daughters, he takes off his belt, as if to say he has been stripped of his manhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn9V3gtwMrc
This version of Act 3, Scene 2, again from Trevor Nunn's production, sports effective special effects to bring the storm during the scene to life. However, one almost doesn't pay attention to the storm itself when Ian Mckellen as Lear is also on screen. Now stripped of his regal attire, and with a tilted posture, the viewer can see the madness of Lear begin in this scene. The storm rather bluntly emphasizes this, but with Ian Mckellen's acting, the storm may not have been needed to get the point across, but it surely adds to the drama of the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHXS1AWCnQ0
This is Act 1, Scene 2 from the Trinity Theatre Company's production of "King Lear", directed by Francesca Gilpin. The stage and prop use are undeniably Shakespearean; meaning, there is little of it, if at all. The most notable distinction of this production is the costuming. It is not classical Shakespearean costumes, but rather more modern clothing, with Edmund wearing a leather jacket and form-fitting jeans. In comparison to Edgar in his khaki pants and sporting a book, Edmund looks quite villainous, fitting his sinister role in the play's plot.
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122
This page contains more in depth biographical information on William Shakespeare if
you wish to find out more about him. The information is interesting, enlightening, and there are links to the right of the biography leading to some of the most famous lines of Shakespeare's design, including the "To be or not to be" soliloguy from Hamlet.
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/kinglear/examq/meightaes.html
This page, and the whole site in general, provides thoughtful commentary on King Lear, particularly focusing on the role of the Fool. The commentary concisely summarizes the Fools role both as comic relief and as a voice of reason to Lear, saying time and again how foolish his decision making has been. The page further comments on whether the Fool is supposed to be played by a boy or a man, as the text examples certainly provide incentive for either possibilty. There is much to learn from this page, and the website in general. Links to other articles related to King Lear are provided below the commentary on the Fool.