Fri 5/31-Sun 6/30
If you’re an avid theatergoer, you’ve undoubtedly seen King Lear at least once. And perhaps you’ve even seen it performed with women in one or more of the men’s roles, as switching genders in Shakespeare plays isn’t a new idea — while in his era, men played all roles, male and female, it’s become common in contemporary staging to cast women in the male roles.
And that is, once again what the Beck Center for the Arts is doing when they present King Lear in their intimate Studio Theater, directed by local playwright Eric Schmiedl. Prominent Cleveland actress Anne McEvoy, who has been seen frequently on virtually all the area’s most important stages, will take on the role of the Earl of Gloucester, whose eyes are gouged out by Lear’s scheming older daughters. Says Schmiedl, “The play has two parallel stories of mistreated parents and the comparison of a father and his daughters (Lear) and a mother and her sons (Gloucester) is very interesting and dramatic.”
Performances take place Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm and Sundays @ 3pm, through Sun 6/30. Tickets are $10-$33.
Lakewood, OH 44107