2008 Woodie Awards
It's good to be the king
Charleston Alley Theatre's production of 'King Lear' hits its mark
Matt Poli/ Verge Reporter
Issue date: 10/15/05 Section: The Verge
The final performance of William Shakespeare's tragic play "King Lear" was presented with eloquence by the Charleston Alley Theatre on Oct. 10.
Directed by Duke Bagger, who played the Earl of Kent, co-opted the lighting, helped with the set decoration and also helped make posters and programs, this two-act play was surprisingly first-rate at portraying Shakespeare's classic tale of good and evil.
The audience was in full attendance at the CAT, which now has ownership of the building they've been performing in for 15 seasons.
While there isn't much atmosphere or room inside, the theater leaves the scenery up to the imagination of the viewer in the intimate setting.
"King Lear" starts off when King Lear himself, delivered with a powerful performance by Dick Rogers, announces that he has divided his kingdom into three equal shares, which are to be given to his three lovely daughters.
Rogers, the star of the play, is a perfect fit to play the king, with his gray beard.
His eldest daughter Goneril, played by Nancy Farber with great emphasis on the sinister tone in the character's voice, tells her father how much she loves him.
Regan, the middle daughter (Martha Mills), tells her father how much more she loves him than Goneril does.
After the two eldest daughters flatter their father, which is later revealed was nothing more than blowing smoke up the king's butt, the youngest daughter Cordelia (Rachel Fisher) doesn't woo her father with promises of unconditional love.
Rather, she explains to her father that she loves him as a daughter should love a father, no more, no less.
Fisher portrayed a perfect Cordelia by articulating her speech and delivering her lines with passion.
King Lear takes this rational explanation of love as a rejection and divides the kingdom into two equal halves for Regan, Goneril and their husbands Duke of Albany (David Radavich), and Duke of Cornwall (Timothy R. Travous, Jr.).
As the play progresses, the Earl of Glouster (Robert Petersen), and his two sons: the illegitimate Edmund (David Beever) and Edgar/poor Tom, (Michael Salem) are introduced. Salem's portrayal of Edgar/poor Tom was both fantastic, yet creepy.
Beever portrays his two-timing cowardly character with fervor and even delivers his lines with sinister tones.
This fight scene between Edmund and Edgar/poor Tom is the climactic point in this performance.
The swordfight battle that took place in this close-set theater was spectacular, because the actors used actual metal swords.
Watching Salem and Beever wield the two heavy swords around in heated battle really captured the audience's breath. One man in the front row actually jumped in his seat when the swords hit the ground, causing sparks to fly.
Directed by Duke Bagger, who played the Earl of Kent, co-opted the lighting, helped with the set decoration and also helped make posters and programs, this two-act play was surprisingly first-rate at portraying Shakespeare's classic tale of good and evil.
The audience was in full attendance at the CAT, which now has ownership of the building they've been performing in for 15 seasons.
While there isn't much atmosphere or room inside, the theater leaves the scenery up to the imagination of the viewer in the intimate setting.
"King Lear" starts off when King Lear himself, delivered with a powerful performance by Dick Rogers, announces that he has divided his kingdom into three equal shares, which are to be given to his three lovely daughters.
Rogers, the star of the play, is a perfect fit to play the king, with his gray beard.
His eldest daughter Goneril, played by Nancy Farber with great emphasis on the sinister tone in the character's voice, tells her father how much she loves him.
Regan, the middle daughter (Martha Mills), tells her father how much more she loves him than Goneril does.
After the two eldest daughters flatter their father, which is later revealed was nothing more than blowing smoke up the king's butt, the youngest daughter Cordelia (Rachel Fisher) doesn't woo her father with promises of unconditional love.
Rather, she explains to her father that she loves him as a daughter should love a father, no more, no less.
Fisher portrayed a perfect Cordelia by articulating her speech and delivering her lines with passion.
King Lear takes this rational explanation of love as a rejection and divides the kingdom into two equal halves for Regan, Goneril and their husbands Duke of Albany (David Radavich), and Duke of Cornwall (Timothy R. Travous, Jr.).
As the play progresses, the Earl of Glouster (Robert Petersen), and his two sons: the illegitimate Edmund (David Beever) and Edgar/poor Tom, (Michael Salem) are introduced. Salem's portrayal of Edgar/poor Tom was both fantastic, yet creepy.
Beever portrays his two-timing cowardly character with fervor and even delivers his lines with sinister tones.
This fight scene between Edmund and Edgar/poor Tom is the climactic point in this performance.
The swordfight battle that took place in this close-set theater was spectacular, because the actors used actual metal swords.
Watching Salem and Beever wield the two heavy swords around in heated battle really captured the audience's breath. One man in the front row actually jumped in his seat when the swords hit the ground, causing sparks to fly.
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