Monarchical Madness Plays Out on the Upper School Stage
Drama, intrigue, politics, and a fair amount of back-stabbing graced the Lindberg-Serries Theater stage last week as a cast and crew of 30 students performed an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” An oft-forgotten title in Shakespeare’s library, the play follows the descent into madness of a fictional king of Britain after dividing his lands amongst his daughters. Adapted by Director Ross MacDonald, audiences were transported to a battleground of schemes and betrayal.
The show opens with an ailing King Lear (Miley Chen ’25) preparing for his old age by dividing his lands and power between his three daughters, Regan (Hale McGivern ’25), Goneril (Maria Zacharia ’25), and Cordelia (Presley Jacobson ’25). Regan and Goneril heap praises and love upon their father and immediately gain his favor and lands, while Cordelia, his favorite, refuses to stroke his ego with false promises of love and adoration. Incensed, the king disowns Cordelia and gives his two eldest daughters all his lands and power.
Meanwhile, the Earl of Gloucester (Gordon Miller ’27) deals with his alleged traitor son, Edgar (Salar Sekhavat ’26), and his scheming bastard son Edmund (Alec Bailey ’27). A struggle for complete control of the kingdom ensues as Regan and Goneril scorn and cast out their father, while Cordelia’s new husband, the King of France, amasses an army to reinstate Lear.
Chen is a presence on the stage, portraying the mad king with equal parts emotion and trauma. While characters like Edgar and the Duke of Kent (Laith Diouri ’25) deliver cunning performances in disguise, the rest of the cast joins in a gripping tale of betrayal and familial ties. From start to finish, the passion was evident on stage as each character vied for power and supported their respective kings.
Thank you to Ross MacDonald for his directorial prowess, Louise Brown for her work on the magnificent costumes, and Adam Howarth for his innovative production design. Catch more shows on the stage later in the school year!
