THE MADNESS OF KING LEAR portrayed by Gordon Adams is comforted by The Fool played by Vince Shatto.
The Chocolate Church Arts Center will present what many consider to be Shakespeare’s finest tragedy — “King Lear — on May 6-8 and May 13-14.
The Chocolate Church stage provides the backdrop for the performance. “The stage itself creates an intimacy with the audience and because of this, we elected to add a thrust to the main stage extending it out into the audience bringing the characters even closer,” said CCAC Executive Director Jennifer DeChant. “Director John Willey also chose a bare stage approach using only two small platforms, a few banners and lighting to identify the various locations throughout Britain.”
Willey of Shakespeare on the Kennebec directs an 18 member cast to bring the classic work to the main stage.
“As the director, the script and subject matter is intimidating to say the least,” Willey said. “To take on such an epic piece is humbling, yet even more so when it comes with its long history, archetypical characters, and audience familiarity and expectations.”
Gordon Adams leads the cast as King Lear; Goneril, daughter of Lear is played by April Joy Purinton; Regan, daughter of Lear is portrayed by Jacqueline Mansfield; Cordelia, daughter of Lear is played by Ellie Hawks; Earl of Gloucester is played by Henrik Strandskov; and Vince Shatto plays The Fool.
Most of the music used in the Chocolate Church Arts Center’s production of King Lear is original music written specifically for the show by Maine composer Donald Crandall, who also plays violin for the Portland Symphony. The costumes, designed by Melanie Willey, are done in a pre-Christian Britain era that incorporates original pieces and adapted costumes from the inventories of Shakespeare on the Kennebec, Studio Theater of Bath and Mid- Coast Youth Theater.
Tickets are $12 advance and $15 at the door for 7 p.m. performances on May 6, 7 and 13 and 2 p.m. matinees will take place on on May 8 and 14. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (207) 442-8455 or to purchase online chocolatechurcharts.org. The Chocolate Church Arts Center is located at 804 Washington St. in downtown Bath.
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