Shakespeare's King Lear to Grace the Utah State Stage

Adrianne Moore, professor of acting and directing in the department of theatre arts at Utah State University and production director, said “King Lear” is one of Shakespeare’s most accessible plays.

“The stakes are high — sons and daughters betray their fathers, an old man’s eyes are gorged out, another old man is turned out of doors in a hurricane, a man kills his brother to avenge a wrong, a jealous woman murders her sister, and a man abandons his child,” Moore said.

 

All that, and more, can be seen when King Lear takes the Morgan stage in the Chase Fine Arts Center (approximately 1110 E. 610 North, Logan) on the USU campus April 10-12 and 16-19. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

 

Tickets are available by calling (435) 797-8022, and are on sale now. Prices range from $6 to $10; with Utah State University students attending free with valid I.D. Educational group rates are available by calling (435) 797-1500. Children under the age of 6 are not admitted.

 

Lear is the story of a world torn apart by the egotism and fallibility of a man, Lear. His desire to keep the ceremony, grandeur and the trappings of his office, but not the responsibility, lead him to divide his kingdom among his children with disastrous consequences for his family and his kingdom.

 

“The divide between the office itself — King, Governor or President — and the individual who holds that office is especially relevant in a time of war and a time when national elections loom,” Moore said. “The play deals with the potential and actual abuse of power by those in control, but also with the self denial and blindness to one’s own faults that accompanies the flattery and obsequiousness of others.”

 

For the spring production, Utah State Theatre welcomes New York actor Christopher McHale, who dons the crown of Lear. Audiences might recognize McHale from appearances on Law & Order, Rescue Me, One Life to Live or Criminal Intent. McHale has also played Julius Caesar, with Denzel Washington, and was in Eugene O’Neil’s The Iceman Cometh on Broadway.

 

McHale has also appeared in King Lear at various times throughout his career and looks forward to this unique setting to play “such a great part.” McHale said what attracted him to Utah is the chance to participate in an atypical professional experience.

 

“I am looking at this through several lenses; as an actor, sure, but also as a learning and teaching experience,” McHale said. “I’ve always felt the need to pass on some of my experiences that might help aspiring young actors. I’m approaching this process as more of a learning experience for both students and myself.”

 

Moore said it takes an accomplished performer for the primary role in Shakespeare’s play.

 

“Lear is the monster (or the mother) of all Shakespeare roles — vast in thematic scope and extraordinarily demanding for any actor,” she said. “He is a king, and if not a very old man, at least firmly middle aged. He is an autocratic king with more than enough lines [of dialogue] to constitute a one-man show. It is a role totally unsuitable for any but a seasoned actor of the appropriate age. For this particular production it was imperative to find someone who was not only right for the role, but also would actively mentor students. We chose an experienced New York-based actor who had appeared in this play twice before and has numerous Shakespeare credits in regional and New York theaters.”

 

McHale’s visit at Utah State University is made possible by a grant from the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation.

 

The director also emphasized the importance of Utah State’s actors in the production.

 

“Lear is in many ways very suitable for a student cast,” Moore said. “Lears’s daughters Goneril, Reagan and Cordelia are wonderful roles for young women as are the brothers Edgar and Edmund. The clarity of the language is absolutely imperative, not only should the audience hear every word but also the sense (of every moment) must be absolutely clear. This production is fairly spare — a bold set and lush costumes — but the emphasis is firmly on the performances and the illustration of a gripping story through the spoken word.”

 

High schools in the Cache Valley area can take advantage of the USU production. The actors, McHale and the director can attend classes or attend a rehearsal to discuss Shakespeare, King Lear, theater or professional work. For more information, call (435) 797-1500.

 

For general inquires about the production, call (435) 797-1500 or email jeremy.gordon@usu.edu.