BBC: King Lear (2018) part 1

I've missed the live broadcast of King Lear, so I'll be catching up on iPlayer. I'm attempting something a bit different this time: I'll be watching it in sections and analysing each act in more detail over several blog posts. Hope you enjoy!
The production was available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b57d0w/king-lear 

Act I, Scene 1

Plot Summary:
Two noblemen, Gloucester and Kent, open the play with a conversation about how the King is dividing his kingdom. Edmund, Gloucester's son, is introduced when Kent remarks to Gloucester "Is this not your son, my lord?", and it is revealed that Edmund was born out of wedlock.

Lear enters with a plan to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. He asks each of them in turn how much they love him, promising to give the largest share to the daughter that loves him the most. Goneril and Regan confess the most love, yet he gives them equal share. Cordelia, however, refuses to perform such flattery, and only speaks of her love when she is pressed by Lear to do so. She tells her father that she only loves him as much as she should: no more, no less. Lear is outraged by this, disowns his third daughter, and divides his kingdom equally between his two eldest daughters.

Kent, having witnessed the outburst, tells Lear that he appears mad to reward flattery and disown honesty in such a way. Still in a fury, Lear banishes Kent from the kingdom, ordering him to leave within six days.

The Kings of France and Burgundy arrive to hear which of them is to marry Cordelia. Lear tells them that she no longer owns any title or land, so Burgundy withdraws his offer. However, France is impressed by her honesty and decides to make her his queen.

Although they recognise that they now have power over the kingdom, Goneril and Regan plot together to reduce their father's power further.

BBC Production:
Richard Eyre's modern-day production begins with dramatic views of London, intense music and the view of soldiers.

Inside the castle, the grey stone walls reflect the icy nature of the events that take place within them. Gloucester's (Jim Broadbent) dismissal of his son, Edmund, feels cold, and it is clear that he loves his status more than he wants a family. When Kent (Jim Carter) and Gloucester continue toward the throne room, Edmund throws a pained yet angry look after his father.

Lear's (Anthony Hopkins) power is clear from the moment he appears on screen. The camera follows his steps through the stone corridor and into the throne room, giving him an instant impression of authority. His costume is a simple black shirt with black trousers, yet he constantly commands the attention of the viewer. The delivery of his lines is flawless, and he intimidates without the need to yell or gesture. I would even go as far to say that his sense of superiority has a kind of elite grace to it.

The throne room is set up very much like a business board room, with white chairs surrounding a glass table. More bare stone walls with the only decoration being a bust of Lear's head and shoulders which eerily lingers in the background. Goneril (Emma Thompson) pours her heart out to her father, seeming desperate to control as much of the kingdom as possible. She shows a mixture of relief and happiness when she is rewarded with a third, much to Regan's discontent. Regan (Emily Watson) nods to her husband as she is determined to show more love for her father, and cannot hide her annoyance when she is awarded the same amount as her sister.

Cordelia (Florence Pugh) is difficult to read as she decides against flattering her father. She appears not to be afraid to speak her mind, yet fails to protest when she is disowned, despite fighting back tears. She clearly does not intend to insult her father, yet remains dignified even in the face of his outburst. When Kent stands up to Lear, Cordelia stands in the background, silent and watching the encounter. She speaks with a bitter tone when she makes it known to France and Burgundy that it is honesty which has deprived her of the King's grace, and Hopkins' careful delivery of Lear's chilling response to Cordelia is ice-cold: "Better thou hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better".

Goneril and Regan close scene 1 with discussions about their aging father. Having them walk out of the castle as they agree that he has too much authority not only provides a smooth transition to Edmund for his monologue, but creates a sense of movement in the plot against King Lear.

Read part 2 here: http://lilliteraturereviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/bbc-king-lear-2018-part-2.html