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Article: Flawed staging of 'King Lear' still worth seeing
- Article from:
- Courier-News (Elgin, IL)
- Article date:
- February 25, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (c) 2001 Courier-News. (Hide copyright information)
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The Chicago Shakespeare Theater's revival of "King Lear" is loaded with fine performances and creative staging touches.
Unfortunately, the bottom line is that the production inspires admiration rather than the awe and pity we expect from this towering tragedy.
The chief problem comes from an unexpected source, the performance by Greg Vinkler as Lear. Vinkler is one of the finest and most versatile actors in the talent-rich Chicagoland theater pool.
But he is 25 years too young to play the aged King Lear.
Lear should evoke an almost Old Testament power on stage, but Vinkler's Lear lacks the dominating presence the drama demands.
Lear's protestations of age and diminishing mental powers ...