In brief, for those who do not know Shakespeare’s story. King Lear is getting old. He divides his kingdom between his two eldest daughters who don’t love him but flatter him. The third daughter who loves him but refuses to flatter him is banished. T

The older daughters then reject him and refuse him shelter in their homes. Lear goes mad with grief and wanders in the forest in a storm. His exiled daughter raises an army and returns but loses the battle and is hanged.

Pip Utton is a veteran of the stage and this year he premiers another of his famous one man shows, this time based on King Lear. Mostly keeping true to Shakespeare’s words and only speaking Lear’s words he reduces what is usually a 3-hour play to just 45 emotional minutes.

As the show opens Lear is seated in a woodland with attending bird calls, a sad and broken man making a crown from leaves and berries. A couple of latecomers creeping in were welcomed in character but without being humiliated, true professionalism.

Stripped down as it is, the performance focuses on Lear’s internal conflicts. Utton transforms himself physically and emotionally between anger, sadness and grief.

Utton draws out Lear’s signs of dementia and infuses his performance with compassion. He gives a heart-rending performance in the final scene, cradling his dead daughter in his arms as he refuses to believe she is dead.

For more information about King Lear at Prague Fringe please use the link below.

Five Stars.

Reviewer Nina Gardner.

https://www.praguefringe.com/programme/pip-utton-king-lear/

https://www.praguefringe.com/

King Lear is Playing at the Prague Fringe
A Studio Rubin
30th May 20:45
31st May 18:45