THE MADNESS OF KING LEAR The Garage International Until 10 Mar 2012 Review by Chris Eaton This production, starring actor Leofric Kingsford-Smith, dancer Shakti and directed by Ira Seidenstein is an engaging interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most lauded plays, “King Lear”, via an abridged version combining text (performed predominantly by Kingsford-Smith) and interpretive dance (Shakti). Kingsford-Smith plays the majority of Lear’s dramatis personae, with a commanding presence which fills the cavernous hall of the NACC. Of particular standouts are Edmund’s monologue (from Act 1, Scene 2) and Lear’s descent into madness in Act 3 as he conducts a mock trial of Goneril and Regan. Shakti’s interpretive dance weaves in and out of the spoken word segments and at times confluxes with them. Dance interpretation of the bard’s work is not new, however the style and solo nature of the dance work by Shakti is likely to be quite different compared to previous movement illustrations. The music is quite a departure too, with an intriguing score consisting of a lot of heavy music, particularly electronica. For the first half of the production both artistic elements seemed at odds with one another, with the text siloed from the movement and one not complimenting the other. After a stirring and incendiary movement segment to Rammstein’s “Du Hast” this opinion evaporates for the remainder of the show. Shakti also lends her voice to parts of the dialogue however due to her accent this was difficult at times to understand. Credit must be given to the technical staff behind the scenes with the quality and operation of the sound and lights which enhanced the production. This treatment certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you are a Shakespeare or Lear fan with an interest in dance or movement head up to the NACC. Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)