Shakespeare coming to life in Alfred

Treason, suspicion, and tragedy are coming to Alfred University.

On April 22-25, William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Lear will be performed by a unique cast of AU students and featuring professor Stephen Crosby as King Lear.

The text has been edited by director Graham Watts, a former Royal Shakespeare Company member, who is also a visiting professor in the performing arts division this semester.

The cast has expressed their excitement for the show and the pleasure of working with Graham and Crosby.

“It’s been an incredible experience and opportunity to work with Graham on this show, both for the cast and the department,” sophomore Melanie Baker said.

Anna Kowalczuk, another sophomore in the cast, says that she, too, is excited about doing the show after all of the work that the cast has put in.

Regarded as one of Shakespeare’s best works, the play describes the elaborate events that follow Lear’s retirement. Two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan (played by Tabatha Bettin and Anna Kowalczuk), are given control of the kingdom and quickly grasp what little power Lear retained. Lear flees from his daughters and he is protected by the loyal nobleman Kent (played by senior Bryan Farthing), who is disguised as Caius because of an order for exile.

Together, their story is woven with that of Gloucester(played by Alfred local Ed Linnecke), whose illegitimate son is also trying to gain power. Gloucester, despite the risks in doing so, tries to aid the now-crazed Lear. He too must flee, and is led to the same city that Kent has taken Lear to. Simultaneously, Lear’s disinherited daughter, Cordelia (played by Melanie Baker), has married the King of France and plans to lead an army against her bickering siblings.

Add shattered marriages, jealousy, fast paced duels and violence and the intertwined tales promise to make a dramatic and powerful, albeit sad perfomance.

The show will be in the CD Smith Theater in the Miller Performing Arts Center starting at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for general admission, $3 for non-AU students, and $1 for AU students, and should be reserved by emailing performs@alfred.edu or by calling (607) 871-2828.