At the heart of the Folger’s Theatre’s authentic and rich theater space, King Lear, as played by Andre De Shields of The Classical Theatre of Harlem, strikes quite a figure. He is draped in an ornate and sparkling turquoise gown, and his full gray beard anchors his sinewy build. With a haughty snap of his fingers, he demands professions of love from his three daughters, the eloquence and extent of which will determine how much land the king will bequeath them as he divides his kingdom.
With flowery language and exaggerated praise, Lear’s daughters Regan (DeidraLaWan Starnes) and Goneril (Chantal Jean-Pierre) fawn over their father, bestowing adulations by the mouthful. Pleased, Lear laughs a majestic laugh and warmly passes on his treasures. He is ignorant to their phoniness, fooled by the grandness of their gestures and words, and misses that their beautiful monologues are exercises in prose alone and devoid of meaning.
The moment is similar to this entire performance from director Alfred Preisser and The Classical Theatre of Harlem.
From its resplendent Mesopotamian costumes to its dramatic lighting techniques to its loud and boisterous performances, the Folger Theatre’s “King Lear” is as much a celebration of polished showmanship as it is of Shakespeare’s classic script. The Bard’s words seem secondary to this colorful canvas, and the result is a performance that lacks true emotion and won’t strike at the heart.
Lear’s descent into madness is one that is artistically interesting, but the audience watches only with detached curiousity. As for the supporting cast, they are superficial at best, not failing in their efforts but doing little to crack the play’s stone.
There are some nice performances here: The diabolical Edmund (Ty Jones) is a likable troublemaker and the Fool (Ken Schatz) is anything but in his spot-on depiction of the half-wit. It’s likely that their success is born from their existence as two points of comic relief in the play. Any sort of overt humanness is welcome here.
Shakespeare purists may be disappointed by the Folger’s incarnation of his timeless script, but those who allow themselves to get caught up by the beauty of the production can appreciate the singular victories Preisser and company have on display.
IF YOU GO …
“King Lear”
Through Feb. 18. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE, Washington
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 p.m. Fridayand Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday; 2 p.m. matinee Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: $32 to $50
Info: 202-544-7077, folger.edu
