Shakespeare’s King Lear Presented by Theatre Department
(Media, PA)—William Shakespeare's mythical play "King Lear," will be presented by the Delaware County Community College Theater Arts Department. There are eight performances scheduled - Wednesday through Saturday, November 10 - 13 and November 17 - 20, at 7 p.m. The play will be presented at the Marple Campus in the Academic building's large auditorium (room 2225).
The play is action-packed -- a clash of good and evil, with tangled strands of intrigue, madness, violence and tenderness. The story follows the tormented journey of old King Lear. With dementia setting in, he bequeaths his kingdom to his three daughters. But he impulsively banishes Cordelia, his youngest, loving daughter, and bestows his powers on Goneril and Regan, his two heartless daughters. When they turn on him, their "filial ingratitude" inflames his madness. Homeless and delusional, he braves a wild thunderstorm and has an epiphany when he meets a naked beggar. The king's plight intersects with that of his friend, the Earl of Gloucester, who is cruelly betrayed by his evil son, Edmund. Its final words echo as the stage darkens - “The oldest hath borne most. We that are young shall never see so much, nor live so long."
Director and Assistant Professor of Theater, Stephen Smith says, "Edmund the Bastard, who destroys his father, is one of Shakespeare's most engaging villains. The play exposes humanity's beastly elements. Yet, amazingly, it's infused with a spirit of unconditional love and hope."
The cast and crew members are students at the College and come from various disciplines and curricula. The Drama Department is committed to providing a comprehensive theater education for its students. In turn, they bring the results to the community through vibrant, thought-provoking productions, featuring one play per semester in a setting that provides the community access to professional quality theater.
Tickets for King Lear are $5.00 at the door. Reservations are recommended. For more information, please visit our new website at www.dccc.edu or call 610-359-5000
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