King Lear

A Double Tragedy

Like the other BBC Radio Shakespeare plays I've purchased (7 or so), the sound quality, production, acting and music are brilliant. In particular, William Houston's performance of Edmund is fantastic. However, as always, BBC omits very large portions of the dialog - some of the best lines - and this is so unacceptable and maddening. Let's consider what kind of person listens to audio dramatizations of Shakespeare: would any of us accept anything less than a strict adherence to Shakespeare's script?

9 people found this helpful

Shameful!

I find the practice of arbitrarily cutting and editing parts of a play, especially one on the magnitude of King Lear, not only astoundingly disrespectful toward the author/writer, but an act of supreme arrogance and condescension. Shakespeare wrote soliloquies and speeches for the characters for a reason. To randomly cut away the lines as the editor(s) and actors deem fit is repulsive and utterly shameful. I suppose these arrogant and haughty creatures will shrug their collective shoulders in indifference and proclaim that "we can do what we please". So can the purchasing customer: let's show these pompous buffoons that their conceit has consequences by boycotting BBC made productions. Only then, when their financial bottom line is threatened, they may humbly render a true performance of a literary masterpiece. Save your money on this one; it's a chopped-up version of King Lear, not King Lear.

4 people found this helpful

Lear

excellent rendition of King Lear. The BBC performance of this helped me get through King Lear, as opposed to various movies or written text. they made it come alive and very interesting.

great play, cast

redgrave is phenomenal as Lear. Kent, Gloucester, the fool and Edgar are also wonderful. highly recommend

Good Way to Understand Shakespeare

This BBC series of dramatized Shakespeare's plays is very good. It's so much easier to understand when there are multiple voices, almost as good as a play.