Treachery with modern twist in King Lear

As printed in The Falcon Online, by Athena Duran. January 28, 2015

A kingdom divided, a family partitioned: Seattle Pacific University’s Theatre Department takes on King Lear. One of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, King Lear is a story of treachery, loss and dysfunction.

“Every aspect of the production blew me away, from the lights and sound to the costumes…the show was very meticulous,” said Natalie Gress, the freshman actress who plays Cordelia.

The journey begins with an announcement by the aged King Lear himself. He states his plan to subdivide power between his three daughters: Regan, Goneril and Cordelia. The largest portion will go to the daughter who most greatly professes her love for him. When his favorite daughter Cordelia expresses she loves him solely as much as a daughter is required to, Lear becomes upset and sets off a chain of events leading to the dissolution his relationships with his daughters and his sense of self-worth.

Playing a character with such a complex nature can to be a difficult and intricate process. Longtime SPU professor George Scranton knows this. Scranton, who is retiring at the end of this year, has played a role similar to Lear in the past, and found it has gotten more difficult with time.

“I was 24 the first time and 31 the time after that. It was much easier then,” Scranton said. “At 70 years old the memorization can be quite difficult. I started…back in June and have been rehearsing on the daily.”

Even before auditions took place, Scranton was aware he would be playing Lear.

“My wife and I have been talking about retirement and had decided that this year was going to be it. When looking at this year’s season, Andrew Ryder mentioned that he wanted to direct King Lear with myself as Lear. I thought to myself, ‘This is one of the greatest roles in western theater. When am I going to get this chance again?’” Scranton said.

The play exhibits a variety of strong characters that communicate themes of reconciliation and betrayal to the audience. A prominent character is the fool, played by sophomore Jason Hill.

“Coming into this production, I had expectations that involved a high level of professionalism. In addition, I was aware that I was auditioning for a production that would prove to be exhausting. Now that it’s nearly over, I am a testament to the production’s challenging aspects. I think we’re ready to put on a good show,” Hill said.

To prepare for his role as the fool, Hill had to understand the historical role of the court jester. Though the fool holds a seemingly low position, he is also the only one who can interrupt the king.

“It was fun to play around with that idea and figure out the best way to bring that out to the audience. There are so many songs, poems and monologues that the fool delivers. I wanted to make sure that the audience understood it,” Hill said.

Other characters also contribute unique qualities. The character of Edgar is played by freshman Camren Blieler.

“My character adopts new faces throughout the story…[he is] extremely aware of what’s going on around him. I had to submerse myself into each one to translate them to the audience. It was a very subtle, meticulous training process,” Blieler said.

In contrast, the role of Cordelia, played by Gress, is strong and self-defined.

“In this production, we took a non-traditional approach with Cordelia. No longer was she this wilted flower. She was an individual with driven purpose. She fights her own battles,” Gress said.

Directing a show like Lear can be a challenging yet rewarding process. Director and Theatre Department Chair Andrew Ryder says it’s taken the effort of almost the entire department.

“Putting this show together has been monumental. It’s a huge project and effort for a lot of people. The Shakespearean text adds to the magnitude,” Ryder said.
Because of the intricacy of the text, adjunct theater professor Candace Vance assisted the actors and guided them to achieve a performance with a somewhat contemporary approach.

For the cast, it was a journey of self-discovery and endurance. Shakespeare can be difficult to produce and produce well.

“The first time we did the very end of the play on stage, there was not a single one of us not crying. We were weeping for the story we just told,” Blieler said. “It was very powerful.”

	Back to the Super Bowl: The Miracle at CenturyLink On Sunday the 18th, the Seattle Seahawk defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-28 in overtime. After the game, I went outside on the patio and blasted away on my "American Shofar" (my cow horn). I heard neighbors respond with cheers — "Yeah!" But I'll readily admit, with the score at the half 16-0 Green Bay, I was losing hope. But the fake field goal pass from holder/punter Jon Ryan to tackle-eligible Garry Gilliam with 4:50 to go in the third quarter sparked renewed hope. Yet, with only 3:52 left in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks still trailed 19-7. Then the miracles began to rain down in buckets. [3:02 ] A 35 yard Marshawn Lynch catch and run set up a [2:13] 1-yard touchdown run by QB Russell Wilson. [2:09] Steven Hauschka's onside kick was recovered by our Chris Matthews. [1:33] Marshawn Lynch rumbled 24 yards for a touchdown. Then Wilson threw across the field to #82 Luke Willson (right) for an improbable two-point conversion, putting Seattle (finally) in the lead 19-22. [0:19] But the Packers kicker Mason Crosby kicked a 48 yard field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime. [OT] The visiting Green Bay team captains called "tails," but the overtime coin toss came up heads. Seahawks ball! Then, starting on "our" own 13 yard line after the kickoff, "we" scored the winning touchdown in just six plays, including a 35 yard pass to Nathanael's favorite player, #89 Doug Baldwin, followed up immediately by the game-winning throw, again of 35 yards, to #15 Jermaine Kearse. Kearse had not caught a ball all day and four Russell Wilson passes to him had been intercepted. Instantly, he went from goat to hero. Legendary sports history was recorded and the Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona on February 1st. Lesson learned? Finish well. "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? — Ezekiel 18:21-23 NIV Still 59 For one more week I am 59. This is a big psychological hurdle. I've tried to lose weight, but hovered between 184 and 181 all month long. It's hard to lose weight and enjoy the Seahawks on Sundays in the style which championship football deserves! At least my pants are fitting better, and I bought two new belts on eBay this month. If I can't loose weight as fast as I'd like, at least in one area I've had success. I've flossed my teeth every night this month. Is it a sign of age or just a wise decision to make another change. Nancy likes to keep the house cool. So now I wear knit hats around the house and to sleep in, also bought on eBay, $4.95 each. Little by little, the state of life called "retirement" has grown in its attractiveness. Nancy and I will attend our first retirement seminar in February. But actual retirement could come as early as 2017, or as late as 2024. And what does a guy who has more than he needs of everything get for himself for his birthday? A baseball-style cap to wear shooting, with the Browning buck mark on it — I'd been looking for a hat and when I won a $4.00 eBay bid, I was delighted. A key holder to protect my pockets — I carry 15 keys on a ring. A small vile of Glow-on to re-paint the front sight on my M&P 9c — the front dot had popped off the first time I shot it at the range. I also bought 500 rounds of 9mm target ammo. The price was good and by buying online I paid no tax. It did mean buying enough to get free shipping. Now if only .22 LR ammo could be found at a reasonable price. The only exercise I'm getting these days is on my brisk walks (or short sprints) to the bus. And having a first floor office means lots of trips up the stairs to the main business school office. I'm often surprised that my favorite seat on the bus, just behind the back door, seems to be the least favorite by the other passengers. I took this blurry shot with my Lenovo Android tablet, of which I have two. One is always charged to take to work. Jeannie Beth Shines in King Lear Jeannie Beth was trying to get over a cold on Wednesday the 28th. That was "preview" night for the SPU winter Mainstage production of King Lear. She reported that, "It went really well last night." Nathanael, Nancy, and I attended opening night the next evening. My hearing, or the actor's diction, did not allow me to catch all that was said, but, still, the plot was clear. Jean's costume, especially her crown/headdress, became more elaborate as the play progressed. Of the three daughters of King Lear, her acting was the most natural and expressive. The star of the show was Dr. George Scranton, age 70, Professor of Theatre who will retire in June. His photo, and a reprint of The Falcon review of the play is copied at the bottom of this page. Jean was pictured twice in the print edition of the school paper. Jean's character, Regan, died off stage from the poison that made her "ill." But they carried her body back on stage for the final scene. Even though I knew the plot, I still cried. The SPU faculty and staff can request free tickets for each Thursday opening night performance. Dr. Hess and others praised Jean's performance to me the following day. Nathanael and Jeannie Beth Audition for The Pirates of Penzance On the 26th, Nathanael auditioned for his first "professional" acting role. Jeannie Beth gave him pointers on the process. Jean auditioned on the 31st. They hope to hear about callbacks soon. The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society last produced The Pirates of Penzance in 2006.
	Bits and Pieces ♦ The Saturday morning men are at Nehemiah 7 at the end of this month, and we will be at Psalm 135 after Nehemiah. ♦ Where does the time go? Grading assignments on the weekend is a weekly task. And on the weekend of the 24th and 25th I spent 19 hours at SPU, processing the 2015-16 Time Schedule.
	My Quote from January “Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.” “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” ― Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land “Happiness consists in getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more.” ― Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers
	Treachery with modern twist in King Lear As printed in The Falcon Online, by Athena Duran. January 28, 2015 A kingdom divided, a family partitioned: Seattle Pacific University’s Theatre Department takes on King Lear. One of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, King Lear is a story of treachery, loss and dysfunction. “Every aspect of the production blew me away, from the lights and sound to the costumes…the show was very meticulous,” said Natalie Gress, the freshman actress who plays Cordelia. The journey begins with an announcement by the aged King Lear himself. He states his plan to subdivide power between his three daughters: Regan, Goneril and Cordelia. The largest portion will go to the daughter who most greatly professes her love for him. When his favorite daughter Cordelia expresses she loves him solely as much as a daughter is required to, Lear becomes upset and sets off a chain of events leading to the dissolution his relationships with his daughters and his sense of self-worth. Playing a character with such a complex nature can to be a difficult and intricate process. Longtime SPU professor George Scranton knows this. Scranton, who is retiring at the end of this year, has played a role similar to Lear in the past, and found it has gotten more difficult with time. “I was 24 the first time and 31 the time after that. It was much easier then,” Scranton said. “At 70 years old the memorization can be quite difficult. I started…back in June and have been rehearsing on the daily.” Even before auditions took place, Scranton was aware he would be playing Lear. “My wife and I have been talking about retirement and had decided that this year was going to be it. When looking at this year’s season, Andrew Ryder mentioned that he wanted to direct King Lear with myself as Lear. I thought to myself, ‘This is one of the greatest roles in western theater. When am I going to get this chance again?’” Scranton said. The play exhibits a variety of strong characters that communicate themes of reconciliation and betrayal to the audience. A prominent character is the fool, played by sophomore Jason Hill. “Coming into this production, I had expectations that involved a high level of professionalism. In addition, I was aware that I was auditioning for a production that would prove to be exhausting. Now that it’s nearly over, I am a testament to the production’s challenging aspects. I think we’re ready to put on a good show,” Hill said. To prepare for his role as the fool, Hill had to understand the historical role of the court jester. Though the fool holds a seemingly low position, he is also the only one who can interrupt the king. “It was fun to play around with that idea and figure out the best way to bring that out to the audience. There are so many songs, poems and monologues that the fool delivers. I wanted to make sure that the audience understood it,” Hill said. Other characters also contribute unique qualities. The character of Edgar is played by freshman Camren Blieler. “My character adopts new faces throughout the story…[he is] extremely aware of what’s going on around him. I had to submerse myself into each one to translate them to the audience. It was a very subtle, meticulous training process,” Blieler said. In contrast, the role of Cordelia, played by Gress, is strong and self-defined. “In this production, we took a non-traditional approach with Cordelia. No longer was she this wilted flower. She was an individual with driven purpose. She fights her own battles,” Gress said. Directing a show like Lear can be a challenging yet rewarding process. Director and Theatre Department Chair Andrew Ryder says it’s taken the effort of almost the entire department. “Putting this show together has been monumental. It’s a huge project and effort for a lot of people. The Shakespearean text adds to the magnitude,” Ryder said. Because of the intricacy of the text, adjunct theater professor Candace Vance assisted the actors and guided them to achieve a performance with a somewhat contemporary approach. For the cast, it was a journey of self-discovery and endurance. Shakespeare can be difficult to produce and produce well. “The first time we did the very end of the play on stage, there was not a single one of us not crying. We were weeping for the story we just told,” Blieler said. “It was very powerful.”
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