060608

Gaby Ford presents
The English Theatre of Rome in

IF LEAR HAD A LAWYER

A world premiere.
A new play inspired by William Shakespeare's King Lear.
Fool v. the King: it takes a courageous heart.
A passionate, tumultuous retelling of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy.
A fantastical tale of foolish proportions.

Playwright/director: Don Carroll
Featuring (in order of appearance):

Jonathan Hedley, Tony Randell,
Juliette Bernelas, Naomi Horsfall,
Dermot O’Connell, Duné Medros,
Gabrielle Chiararo, Augusto Cerruti,
Rosie Hillesley, Giacomo Martelli

Prologue

The place is Britain, a long time ago. The kingdom is in chaos, with an irrational, unpredictable King Lear at the helm.
His Fool is fed up with the king's behavior and fears that unless law is brought to the kingdom, it's safe future cannot be assured. Fool is also hopelessly in love with Lear's youngest daughter Cordelia who he knows is out of reach for someone like him. Believing that becoming a lawyer will allow him to guide Lear and turn Cordelia his way Fool decides to go to law school. He leaves in the dead of night, telling no one.

Plot

The action begins with Fool's return from law school. His love for Cordelia has only deepened. Unfortunately Fool gets back just before but too late to stop Lear from dividing the kingdom between his other two daughters Goneril and Regan, Cordelia having being excluded for failing to demonstrate her total love for her father. All hell breaks loose and Fool heads off on a breakneck mission to prevent the destruction of Lear's family and the kingdom that Fool knows is the inevitable result of Lear's wrathful and impetuous decision.