Positive Review for Lear's Daughters

Tonight, I went with fellow classmates to see Lear's Daughters. I was confused when we entered; though we had gotten there early and the lights were still on, three young women were sitting center stage in the middle of the floor and, even more strangely, an actress dressed as an older woman sat behind them in a wheelchair and an oxygen mask on her face. I could tell that this play would be unlike any other I had ever seen. I have been to many mainstream Broadway plays, but had never gone to something this avant garde, and had never gone to any of the plays on campus. I was also a little nervous that I wouldn't understand the premise of the play because I have never read King Lear. However, after a quick briefing by a friend, and a glimpse at the playbill, I got a better understanding for what I was in for.

I really enjoyed Lear's Daughters. Admittedly, there were some bizarre moments in the play where I felt a little lost, but overall, I think I understood the underlying tone of each scene. I really loved the sound effects and music that accompanied the actions. I appreciated how perfectly each actor fell into his or her role; I especially felt that Goneril, The Fool, and The Nanny did outstanding jobs, but everyone really performed spectacularly. Favorite moments included the giving birth/miscarriage scene, the "dance for Daddy" scene, Goneril balancing the books and hearing that Regan was pregnant, and the story of each girl's birth. I could feel the passion in each of the scenes; I can still Regan's shrieking as she was miscarrying and it was truly bone-chilling.

I knew from the program that Lear was supposed to appear to be incestuous, and I think it came across, but I maybe would have like the issue more directly addressed instead of just being alluded to. With that being said, and from my knowledge of rape and incest survivors, I think that the actresses who played Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, respectively, did phenomenal jobs of portraying the love/hate/self-loathing emotions that people would feel in that situation. These actresses also did a great job of portraying themselves as stuck as little girls who wanted to eventually grow up, as they talked about the first times they went downstairs, and whenever they looked out the window.

I am excited to read the actual King Lear now and compare it to Elaine Weinstein's interpretation of a King Lear "Act 0." I think only then will I be able to give Weinstein's take on Lear a fair review. As of now, however, I am a fan of Lear's Daughters.