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Photos contributed by Matt Houck
'Ay, every inch a king'
The Theater Department's rendition of 'King Lear' is stunning, memorable
The Advocate
With blood, betrayal and madness, “King Lear” is Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy and from Feb. 26 through March 7, MHCC’s theater department will be delivering an awe-inspiring rendition.
From the beginning the mood is set as Sam Mowry sits dressed as a crow while creepy sounds play behind a soundtrack of the cast reciting key lines from the play.
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After it begins, what makes the play stand out is the cast. From Mowry down to the ensemble, every person transcends to become their character.
As seen in Wednesday night’s dress rehearsal, Mowry shines as King Lear, becoming a force of nature that is just as powerful as the play’s most important lines. He is convincing in his madness, his anger, his remorse.
He is flanked by a cast comprised of students and other professional actors, each of which are more than capable of standing out on their own.
Megan Murphy and Heather Harlan are wonderful as Goneril and Regan, relishing in their roles as spiteful sisters. Playing what could be one-dimensional, bitter hags, Murphy and Harlan transform them into dynamic women whose desires of power seem tangible. Lauren Luiz as Cordelia acts with surprising empathy and passion for her father, King Lear.
Jeffrey Gilpin’s performance as Edgar (and later in disguise as Poor Tom,) is so energetic it’s nearly an assault. Gilpin stands out, at times, above the professional actors hired to fill roles students couldn’t play.
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Tom Beckett as Kent has a potent strength on set, carrying a matching fierceness in his eye and his voice. He finds a way to connect with the audience and the cast around him in what becomes a very natural performance.
Each cast member finds their spot, their purpose and their character. It’s an asset to any play when the cast can act as a true ensemble, playing off each other and working together to make the play come to life. Unfortunately, a few slips of the tongue and memory were noticeable for some of the cast. However, it is not enough to ruin the experience the play provides.
What will really push audiences to the edges of their seats are the fight scenes. For a myriad of reasons, it’s easy for fight scenes to look cheesy, but audiences won’t find that with “King Lear.” The fights in the play are just as honest, as intense watching them on the stage as if you were watching it on the Channel 8 news.
All of this takes place on a unit-set, which was an amazing choice for a dynamic play like “King Lear.” Without an ever-changing set, audience members are able to absorb themselves into the play. This is also aided by the fact that the set is extremely detailed and conducive to the themes of the play.
Overall, “King Lear” is not a play to miss. Rich in detail and phenomenal performances, this rendition is startling and utterly unforgettable.
4.5 out of 5
“King Lear” will be performed in the MHCC College Theater from today, Feb. 27and March 5 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 28 and March 7 at 2 p.m. Admission is $10.
A wine and hors d’oeuvres reception will be held tonight in the Visual Arts Gallery at 6 p.m. prior to the opening night of “King Lear.” Admission is $10 per person and tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, contact MHCC student Kaitlin Buss at HTRPT@mhcc.edu.
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