BBC: King Lear (2018) part 3

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

Act I, Scenes 4-5

Plot Summary

Kent, who has been banished by King Lear, dons a disguise as Caius in order to remain within the kingdom to protect his King. Lear asks "Caius" of his intentions in his kingdom, and Kent ensures his answers are vague but full of admiration for the King - this impresses Lear.

King Lear requests to see Goneril, but Oswald leaves without responding. A knight reports that she is unwell, and also tells the King that Goneril's household are being rude toward the King's entourage.

Goneril enters and complains of the Fool's and the knights' unruly behaviour. She demand that the number of knights in the King's service are reduced - Lear responds in anger that he will move to Regan's palace where he will be appreciated.

Scene 5 begins with Lear sending Kent to deliver a message to Gloucester. The Fool foresees that Regan will equally mistreat King Lear, just as Goneril has. Lear begs the Heavens to keep him sane.

BBC Production

This scene is introduced with images of Jim Carter trimming his hair and shaving off his beard, signalling that a transformation of character is taking place. The viewer is then transported to the woods where Lear is found with his men, hip-flask in hand, chanting and celebrating the results of a hunt. Kent, disguised as Caius, watches from behind a tree. "Caius" steps forward to greet the King, who does not appear suspicious that he already knows the man before him. They stand face-to-face as Lear asks what his business is, and Lear is quick to accept his company.

Personally, I find an issue with disguises such as the Kent-Caius one in this play being translated into film. In the real world, Lear would have recognised a person with whom he has worked closely. For Lear to look Kent directly in the face and not realise who he is seems implausible, yet this seems to happen in many modern-day productions that attempt to place Shakespeare in a modern naturalistic setting. Perhaps Hopkins could have taken a step back and looked as if he recognised Carter upon the line "Dost thou know me, fellow?", and Lear been convinced by Caius' speech. Or, perhaps he should have been distracted and therefore not looking directly at Carter - this would allow for Lear to show arrogance after being flattered by Caius, and make the decision to trust Caius' words based on his ego.

The men return to Goneril's palace full of celebrations, and when the King requests to know where Goneril is, he is quickly dismissed by Oswald (Christopher Eccleston), leaving a dumb-struck Anthony Hopkins and Jim Carter in the room. Oswold consults with Goneril and she asks him to report that he is sick. Scraps from Act I, Scene 3 fill in the blank that has previously been left, giving a brief explanation for Oswald's actions and showing that he is under Goneril's command. Oswald returns to the room and is bullied by the King and his men, slapped, pushed and laughed at.

Following this fight, Oswald is quickly forgotten as the Fool (Karl Johnson) visits the house to see the King. The King's violence remains apparent when he grabs the Fool by the collar as a greeting, and his drunkenness is being to show as he slurs words and listens intently to the Fool's riddles.

The Fool relates his story to the King, while Goneril listens from the next room before entering the scene. She appears as a sensible teacher-ish figure, standing above him as she lectures him over his behaviour. She is surrounded by the King's knights, and so the tipsy King puts on an arrogant performance in front of his men. Goneril is not swayed, even when Lear burps at her. Things become serious as anger overcomes Lear and he decides he must leave a place which is so ungrateful of his presence. There is a brief moment of awkwardness as Albany (Anthony Calf) enters the room expressing his confusion over why the King must leave, and Lear responds with a kiss directly on Albany's mouth. A moment of "what the hell just happened?!" follows next, as Lear, Albany and Goneril all show expressions of disbelief.

Lear's rage continues toward Goneril, who holds her head down and shuts her eyes in seeming fear. She then rants to her husband about the horror her father is bringing upon their family. She asks Oswald to go to Regan and inform her of the King's behaviour and warn her of his arrival.

A quick transition moves the scene back to a conversation between the King and the Fool, as they are sat outside with the knights busying themselves in the background. Serene music plays as the Fool consoles the King over his actions, and as the King requests of the Heavens that he may not be mad.

Read part 4 here: http://lilliteraturereviews.blogspot.com/2018/06/bbc-king-lear-2018-part-4.html