Lear: That Old Man I Used To Know NYC Reviews and Tickets

84%

(5 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Enchanting, Great staging, Great acting, Magical, Clever

About the Show

This new drama retells Shakespeare's heartbreaking tragedy through the eyes of a little girl.

From the show:

A young girl has run away to her Grandmother's attic, a space for forgotten objects covered with drop cloths and dusty time. When searching through a stack of old books, she opens one up to reveal that the words literally come alive off the pages as characters and creatures emerge around her and begin to tell her the story of King Lear. A classic story, retold through the eyes of a child.

Member Reviews (5)

Could be edited, Language delivered well, Great visuals, Well acted/directed, Emotional

See it if like your Shakespeare well spoken & delivered with child's sense of mystery, can't get enough of tragedy, don't mind 3 hrs with great story

Don't see it if tend to fall asleep B4 intermission, there are 2, don't like classical theatre, need laugh a minute, cant empathize with on stage characters

Great staging, Enchanting, Engaging, Magical, Intelligent

See it if You want to see a really beautiful King Lear, you want to understand the play, you enjoy Shakespeare and music and literature, adaptations

Don't see it if You are a Shakespeare purist, you don’t enjoy Shakespeare, if you get antsy the show is long, you’re impatient or not a good listener Read more

Great staging, Ambitious, Clever

See it if If you like Shakespeare and unusual takes on his texts

Don't see it if You don't like Shakespeare or Lear or are a purist when it comes to staging Shakespeare. Read more

Great writing, Disappointing, Great acting

See it if you like (maybe not love as a purist) Shakespeare and enjoy innovative departures from the classics.

Don't see it if you believe the actor's gender should correspond to the role's. You are annoyed with an extra character as a narrator. Read more

100

Heartfelt, Refreshing, Enchanting, Great acting, Epic

See it if you enjoy Excellent actors telling the story of King Lear in an imaginative way. If you love magic and are drawn in by stage picture & sound

Don't see it if You don't enjoy cross gender casting in Shakespeare.

Critic Reviews (3)

3/5 Stars "Not the Tragedy You Used to Know: Writer-director Beth Ann Hopkins fools with Shakespeare's King Lear for intriguing changes"
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"The concept of seeing the play through a child's eyes does not develop in any way and the additions of more recent authors only draws attention to itself as a poor device. Some of the acting is accomplished; other performers have not yet found their characters."
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