As King Lear, Glenda Jackson enters with a casual swagger, giving off a scent of power that’s lasted a lifetime.  But Lear is portrayed by an 82-year-old woman, lean and light and, at 5’6, dwarfed by the dignitaries and daughters who share the stage in the opening scene at the Cort Theater.  If Jackson’s performance turns this inventive but imperfect production into a must-see of the Broadway Spring season, it’s not just because of her impressive stamina and control. It’s also the appearance of physical fragility that helps make her Lear stand out.  …DIrector Sam Gold creates some memorable theatrics in his King Lear, some of which illuminate the text for us, little of which undermine it for me.

Full review on DC Theatre Scene.

Pedro Pascal as the evil son Edmund and Jayne Houdyshell as his father the Earl of Gloucester

Pedro Pascal as the evil son Edmund and Jayne Houdyshell as his father the Earl of Gloucester

Russell Harvard as the eye-gouging Duke of Cornwell and Aisling O’Sullivan as his wife, Regan, one of Lear’s two ungrateful daughters.

John Douglas Thomas as the virtuous Earl of Kent, Michael Arden as Cornwall’s aide and sign language interpreter, an Russell Harvard as Cornwall.

Elizabeth Marvel as General, the power-hungry and sex-crazed eldest daughter of Lear

Ruth Wilson as the Fool, Glenda Jackson as King Lear and John Douglas Thompson as the Earl of Kent

Sean Carvajal as Edgar, Gloucester’s virtuous son.

Ruth Wilson as Cordelia, Lear’s youngest and most honest daughter

Jayne Houdyshell as the blinded Earl of Gloucester and Glenda Jackson as the dethroned and deranged King Lear.