Synopsis

Video*

Pictures

After being cruelly blinded, the Earl of Gloucester heads toward the cliffs of Dover intending to kill himself by jumping off.

He is guided by Edgar, the son he has mistakenly accused of plotting his murder, who is disguised as a peasant. In order to purge the old man's despair, Edgar tricks his father into thinking that he has fallen hundreds of feet to the beach below and that he has been miraculously saved .

After he agrees to "bear free and patient thoughts," Gloucester hears King Lear approach, ranting and raving. The king has gone mad after being turned out into a storm by his ungrateful daughters.

Now the king utters "matter and impertinency mixed, reason in madness," preaching like a prophet about social injustice and humanity's tragic destiny. As Edgar listens, the king swings wildly between mocking and commiserating with his old friend, the Earl.

• "When shall I come to the top"

• "Your other senses grow imperfect..."

• "The crows and choughs that wing the midway air..."

• "O you mighty gods, this world I do renounce..."

• "Hear, you sir, speak!"

• "I am the king himself"

• "It smells of mortality"

• Credits

• in the greenroom [Stacie Pudas as Gloucester]

• makeup preparation [Michelle Berchtold]

• making Lear (1) [Joe Davidman and Sue George]

• making Lear (2) [Joe Davidman and Sue George]

• rehearsing lines [Joe Davidman as Lear]

• "the murmuring surge/ that on th'unnumbered bebble chafes" [Scott's Creek Beach]

• "dizzy 'tiz to cast one's eyes so low" [Scott's Creek Beach]

• fogbank at ocean

• "the fisherman that walk upon the beach/appear like mice"

• "hark do you hear the sea?" [Brandon Beach as Edgar, Stacie Pudas as Gloucester]

• "Your other senses grow imperfect/ by your eyes' anguish"[Brandon Beach as Edgar, Stacie Pudas as Gloucester]

• "but who comes here"[Joe Davidman as Lear]

• cameraman at work[Jason Hodgson]

• cast

• watching rushes

• washing up [Brandon Beach]

• in the cutting room

  photos by Michelle Berchtold,Steven Marx and Stacie Pudas