King Lear

William Shakespeare, Jonathan Munby

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781786825995
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Shakespeare Drama
• Index: Literature

Jonathan Munby's explosive revival of Shakespeare's epic tragedy transferred to the West End following its sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre. Performed by a celebrated cast led by Ian McKellen as the embittered monarch in a fractured kingdom. In this version the play has been cut back to its essentials to create a shorter play for a modern audience. Munby has also created a version to suit the intimacy and immediacy of the Minerva Theatre (Chichester), whilst harnessing what he describes as the "catapulting ferocity" of the play. Two ageing fathers - one a King, one his courtier - reject the children who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with shocking ends. Tender, brutal, moving and epic, King Lear is considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written.

SCENE 1

Enter KENT and GLOUCESTER.

KENT I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER It did always seem so to us.

KENT But now, in the division of the kingdom –

GLOUCESTER It appears not which of the Dukes he values most.

Enter EDMUND with ATTENDANT.

ATTENDANT My lord.

KENT Is not this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER His breeding hath been at my charge. I have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazed
to it.

KENT I cannot conceive you.

GLOUCESTER This young fellow’s mother could; whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had indeed a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.

Do you smell a fault?

KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

GLOUCESTER But I have a son, By order of law –

KENT Edgar –

GLOUCESTER Some year elder than this; who, yet is no dearer
in my account, though this knave came something saucily to the world, before he was sent for: yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble lady, Edmund?

EDMUND No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER My Countess of Kent: remember her hereafter, as my honourable friend.

EDMUND My services to your ladyship.

KENT I must love you, and sue to know you better.

EDMUND Lady, I shall study deserving.

GLOUCESTER He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again.

The King is coming.

The national anthem is sung:

[Song.] Ultima Cumae venit iam carminis aetas;

Magnus ab integro sanctorum nascitur ordo.

Iam redit Virgo, redent Saturnia regna;

Iam nova progenies Carlo demittur alto.

Tu modo nascenti pero, quo ferrea primum
desinet ac toto surget gens aurea mundo
casta fave Lucina: tuus iam Apollo!

Enter EDGAR bearing a coronet, LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA.

LEAR The two great Princes, France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love,
Long in our court, have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answer’d.

Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege. [Exit.]

LEAR Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the map there. Know that we have divided
In three our kingdom: and ’tis our fast intent,
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. Tell me, my daughters,
Which of you shall we say doth love us most,
That we, our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
Our eldest born, speak first.

GONERIL Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter,
Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty,
Beyond what can be valued rich or rare,
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:
As much as child e’er loved, or father found.
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of ‘so much’ I love you.

LEAR Of all these bounds even from this line, to this,
With shadowy forests and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany’s issues
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter?
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall?

Speak.

REGAN Sir, I am made
Of that self-mettle as my sister is,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart,
I find she names my very deed of love:
Only she came too short, that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense possesses,
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear highness’ love.

LEAR To thee and thine hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No less in space, validity, and pleasure
Than that conferred on Goneril. But now, our joy,
Although the last not least; in our dear love:
What can you say to win a third more opulent
Than your sisters?

Speak.

CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.

LEAR Nothing?

CORDELIA Nothing.

LEAR Nothing will come of nothing, speak again.

CORDELIA Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less.

LEAR How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest you may mar your fortunes.

CORDELIA Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I
Return those du...