Reply to an Advertisement for an Actor to Play the Character of King Lear

Reply to an Advertisement for an Actor to Play the Character of King Lear

Dear Mr Simon

I am writing in reply to your advertisement for an actor to play the

character of King Lear in your upcoming production. I have much acting

experience and have appeared in many theatre and film performances

over the last 40 years.

I have previous experience in King Lear, as I starred as King Lear at

the New York 'Shakespeare in the park' festival. This production

required extreme emotional elements, which I believe I executed with

sincerity.

My "experienced" appearance closely adheres to Lear's in the play. My

72 years have not yet affected my acting ability, and I must say, it

has permitted me to retain the stamina of a younger man.

I have thought about what it is you want to see in your production of

King Lear.

I greatly admire Paul Schofield's performance in the Brook production

of King Lear 1962. His portrayal of Lear was angry and unheroic. The

audience had no sympathy for Lear in his rage. He was perceived as

shamefully boorish when expressing his anger by up-turning tables and

implements, and through this performance his madness in Act 3 was

deserved.

Lear's tyranny as a father contributes greatly to the lesson he learns

by the end of the play. It difficult to decide whether Lear does do

wrong as a father. This point, however, is not important when

evaluating the play as a whole. Richard Eyre's King Lear of the 1990's

did focus more so on Lear as a father, than as a king. The delicate

balance of power is seen between fathers and their children, between

sisters, and between brothers. In Eyre's film version of the play,

symbolism is used to create a deeper understanding of the

psychoanalytical reading he attempts to convey.

Little colour is seen throughout the production. The key colours are

black, white and red. This can be interpreted in many ways. I believe

that the black and white is to show the alternation between good and

evil, and the red is a symbol of anger, betrayal and of family, who of

course are only bound by blood.

In the first act Lear paces around the family, who are seated at the

table, showing domination over the family. The family dynamics of the

play are very apparent. This production has a major focus on the

characters and their interaction with each other.

Lear is seen in this production, standing on the table yelling and all

who were seated have stepped back from him. Eyre has incorporated such

items as a crown and whip to show Lear's power.