King Lear

"Derek Jacobi stars in King Lear". How you react to that sentence will probably dictate your feelings towards the current tour of Shakespeare’s great tragedy, because Jacobi’s performance in the title role is its greatest aspect.

And a fantastic performance it proves to be. There are many traps and stereotypes associated with the role, and half the pleasure in watching the performance unfold is seeing Jacobi handle each of them brilliantly, making many surprising choices that lead to a stellar performance that is richer in emotion and depth than most.

Every nuance, from his giddy treatment of favourite daughter Cordelia at the start to his almost whispered delivery of the famous "Blow, winds…" monologue, shows a clear emotional path that is missing from many other interpretations. It is like watching a master class; an almost humbling experience.

It’s a shame then that one would be hard-pressed to call the tour a master production. It is a very competent piece of theatre that is well acted, directed and designed, but aside from Jacobi’s performance there is little that sets it apart. The line delivery is extremely quick, with scenes starting right on top of each other, sometimes even overlapping, and there is little in visual flourishes (save some creative moments of carnage in the second half).

This all leads to a production that is easy to admire but might be difficult for those unfamiliar with the plot to actively engage with. There are some very strong elements, including the handling of Lear’s elder daughters and the darker treatment of the Fool, but these are choices that will mean more to those familiar with Lear.

It’s a shame that it’s down to Jacobi to carry the entire production, but he does so with such ease and ability that it is easy to forget how complicated the story and the rest of the characters are supposed to be.