Lear lights Firehouse
Vanity, insanity, calamity, Oh my!
By Sally Lubetich
Intrigue reigns supreme in Stone Town Theatre Works premier production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear, directed by Heather Dyer.
David Cox stars as King Lear in the Stone Town Theatre Works production at the Firehouse Performaing Arts Center in Fairhaven. Photo credit - Sean Stockburger
David Cox gives a masterful performance as King Lear, a vain man pushed to insanity by betrayal at the hands of his two eldest daughters. Cox deftly meets the challenges of this demanding, high-energy role with the stalwart grace of a King. Keeping it in the family are the delightfully evil elder daughters played by Mikael R. Kenoyer and Katie Cole. They are so good at being so bad. Sarah Modesto does a wonderful job portraying the fatally misunderstood youngest daughter, Cordelia. Donald Drummond and Rob Slater are excellently cast as the King’s sons-in-law. One is virtuous and one villainous; both are brilliant at defining the struggle between good and evil.
The betrayal doesn’t stop there. The King’s very good friend, Gloucester, has his own family intrigue to deal with. Christopher Key is outstanding as a father whose loyalty to the King blinds him to the deception brewing in his own home. Cail Musick-Slater plays the good son who is thrown out into the wilderness and struggles to keep his own sanity. His extraordinary crossing into lunacy is fascinating and reminiscent of Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Christopher Ballou gives an exceptional performance as the ambitious son with a thirst for power. Conniving and treacherous with a beguiling smile, his scheming and betrayal is a guilty pleasure to watch.
Jeff Braswell plays the Fool. He gives us a delightfully playful and jovial Fool whose message isn’t lost in his foolery. The Fool is great fun to watch, but listen when he gives warning.
As the ever-loyal Kent, Lucas Naylor presents us with another skillful transformation from guarded gentleman to rough-and-tumble servant, all the while maintaining his own deceptions and intrigue.
Rounding out the cast are several actors in multiple roles. Rossner Gideon is delightful as the snide, self-serving, and arrogant Oswald. Robin Stift gives a fine performance as the King of France. And then there are the Goddesses: Shelby Ford, Jill Likkel, Sarah Mickelson, and Linda Telfer. They are the ethereal messengers in the King’s hallucinations, heralds, officers and servants that shape the background to this epic Shakespearean tragedy.
King Lear plays March 6-7 & 12-14, 7:00 p.m., at the Firehouse Performing Arts Center in Fairhaven. Tickets are $10 across the board and reservations may be made by calling (360) 201-5922.
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