Nancy Meckler directs Kevin R McNally in this new production of Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear, which runs at the Globe until 14 October 2017. What have critics been saying? Here’s Love London Love Culture’s round-up of the reviews.
The Guardian: ★★★ “To his credit, McNally catches Lear’s contradictions, one moment berating Goneril as a plague-sore and the next getting a laugh by saying “But I’ll not chide thee”. He also speaks the verse clearly and the context gives extra bite to Lear’s attacks on the hypocrisies of power.”
The Independent: ★★★ “Not a great production, but an honourable one that gathers to a gutting climax.”
The Times: ★★ “Kevin McNally looks like a cross between Ernest Hemingway and Captain Birdseye in a serviceable but lacklustre production”
The Stage: ★★★ “there’s nothing too outrageous here, nothing to provoke the purists or to give the iconoclasts cause to rejoice. It’s just a very decent King Lear, clear and precise, with nothing in excess.”
The Telegraph: ★★★★ “In short the play’s the king – and as Lears go, Kevin R McNally, 61, plucked from semi-celebrity (he’s best-known for a recurring role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films) to assail this mountainous role, is a bit of a find.”
Broadway World: ★★★★ “Whilst Lear’s personal struggles almost play second fiddle to the sisters’ power struggle by the end, that doesn’t stop Kevin McNally from putting in a revelatory performance. He captures the cruel humour of the king, and sensitively shows his gradual decline into madness – his final scene is incredibly moving.”
Time Out: ★★★ “A ‘Lear’ for the ages? Nuh-uh. But it’s a decent, dignified one, that shows even the Globe can strike a restrained note in these dark times.”
Culture Whisper: ★★★ “While there’s enough talent and performative flair to make this version of Lear engaging, it’s a shame that the bolder exploration of homelessness and dislocation is left behind in vignettes and visuals.”
Exeunt Magazine: “Despite its flaws, this is a poignant approach to Shakespeare’s play, in which a simplified form often wrestles with complex content.”
The Upcoming: ★★★★ “King Lear at Shakespeare’s Globe is a fascinating interpretation thereof. It’s powerful, with outstanding performances, and made particularly effective by its outdoor setting – a recommended viewing.”
London Box Office: ★★★★ “a vivid staging of an undisputed masterpiece.”