King Lear (What Dreams May Co.) NYC Reviews and Tickets

74%

(13 Reviews)

Positive

77%

Mixed

23%

Negative

Members say

Entertaining, Great acting, Quirky, Ambitious, Absorbing

About the Show

What Dreams May Co. and Queens Shakespeare present Shakespeare's great tragedy featuring a female Lear, reset in early 20th-century Russia.

Director Emily C.A. Snyder reimagines 'Lear' in the last days of Imperial Russia, a world of encroaching cold and darkness, blowing winds, and crashing thunder. An era when class distinctions are brutally enforced in the ever-shifting battle to keep from being left out in the cold. Experiencing this timeless work through this high-stakes lens, audiences are able to find their own reason in madness and wisdom in folly, and perhaps see a bit of their own nature in the shadow of Lear’s looking glass.

Member Reviews (13)

Clever, Entertaining, Intelligent, Delightful

See it if If you want to see a Lear consistent with the 17th century context and audience that Shakespeare for which wrote

Don't see it if If you want to apply 21st century moral values or you think that gender bending the lead will create a "change" in the story or presentation

Good acting, Stage fighting, Clear, Easy to understand

See it if You like Lear and would be interested in seeing a woman in the title role.

Don't see it if You're not a Shakespeare/Lear fan.

Ambitious, Entertaining, Clever, Great writing, Thought-provoking

See it if you're interested in seeing a female King Lear, you like Shakespeare in an intimate theater.

Don't see it if you want a traditional King Lear or a period piece. Some of the acting is very strong, some uneven, but hopefully it'll improve over the run

Ambitious, Banal, Disappointing, Indulgent, Slow

See it if If you must see all presentations of these great works

Don't see it if If mediocre staging and acting disappoint you and shows with no passion bore you then you need to stay away from this show

Entertaining, Clever, Quirky

See it if you want a new spin on a classic or an intimate indie show that feels like it was mounted by a crew of ambitious, underfunded grad students.

Don't see it if you care about production values, you're a stickler for internal consistency, or you find gender-swapping or doubling of roles confusing. Read more

Delightful, Refreshing, Confusing, Entertaining, Enchanting

See it if A nice production of a classic, reimagined with a female Lear

Don't see it if You want traditional Shakespeare without modernization

Disappointing, Slow, Funny, Lively actors

See it if you deeply enjoy Shakespeare & want a show that almost highlights the same bawdiness Shakespeare would have in his original performances.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of Shakespeare, especially if the play be a bit long, you want something new and resonant. Read more

Entertaining, Great acting, Refreshing, Different, Quirky

See it if You like Shakespeare but don't really understand it. This is a modern take on Lear with a female in the role of king & her daughters.

Don't see it if You don't like Shakespeare or only like Shakespeare that stays true to the original.

Trailer

Creative team