It is a Lear without the hystrionics and wailing and gnashing of teeth and all the better for it. It was a beautifully measured performance from almost all. The absence of hamming meant that the Shakespearean text, which can be hard to conceive, was beautifully conveyed.
The supporting cast including Gina McKee (Goneril), Tom Beard (Duke of Albany), Michael Hadley (Earl of Kent), Paul Jesson (Gloucester) and Gwilym Lee (Edgar) were especially adept, each delivering just the right amount of emotion for each role.
On the downside Alec Newman (Edmund) was a tad over-boiled, Gideon Turner (Duke of Cornwall) had an unfortunate gait which was more suitable to one of the Gallagher brothers than a royal Duke, and proved entirely distracting and Justine Mitchell (Regan) had a weak voice with an unfortunate rasp which lost all audibility at anything outwith normal speaking range.
The white-washed planking set meant that all attention was focussed on the performance and was particularly effective in the storm scene where Jacobi delivers the 'Blow winds and crack your cheeks' speech as a hushed whisper making it all the more spellbinding. The King's descent into madness is heart wrenching and his end is as dignified and graceful as the rest of the performance.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this before it heads next to Broadway 'arriving trailing hosannas in its wake.'
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