By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Opens Thursday, SEP 27
RUNS THRU OCT 7, 2007 IN REPERTORY WITH
SHAKESPEARE'S TAMING OF THE SHREW
San Jacinto Campus Theatre
1499 N. State Street, San Jacinto, CA 92583
Box Office: 951-487-3790
Tickets prices range from $5 to $10 depending on age
KING LEAR by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) Considered by many scholars as Shakespeare's finest tragedy, the story centers on King Lear, an aging monarch who is headstrong and blind to his weaknesses. He decides to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters, according to which one recites the best declaration of love. Goneril and Regan, who are the selfish daughters of Lear, pretend to love him but later treat him cruelly. Lear disowns Cordelia, his loyal and unselfish daughter, after he confuses her honesty of love and refusal to flatter with insolence. Lear advocates his throne and power to his two eldest daughters and their husbands, only to become victim to their selfishness, power and greed. Lear's decision to divide the land, and the blindness of his own pride and faults as its once leader, begin a chain reaction of tragic events that forever affect the lives of Lear and those around him. Filled with timeless themes of good and evil, pride and humility, the power of the human will and the glory of redemption, King Lear is a story for all ages.
"When one is given governance and leadership over others, there are certain unalienable responsibilities that must be met," declares Director Coley O'Brien McAvoy about the underlying theme of the play. Power and ethics play vital roles in this play as the estranged Lear - played by Allen Purchis - is faced with the consequences of his actions as Britain's once sovereign king. "Lear believed that his identity as a king and a father were separable from his duties as such. This pride and blindness prevented him from fulfilling his ethical responsibilities in both capacities. As a result, once his power is relinquished and he is estranged by his family, he and the lives of those around him are left to face the consequences of his neglect," comments Coley O'Brien McAvoy. "This play carries timeless messages to any parent or person in a position of authority. Leadership requires love, compassion, mercy, wisdom, loyalty and servitude to those who are being led. This is an ethical lesson we must all learn from." In standard Shakespeare fashion, the playwright creates timeless characters by weaving intense ethical dilemmas throughout this timeless drama.
King Lear Performance Schedule
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Cast
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King Lear is presented as part of The San Jacinto Valley Shakespeare
Festival, produced and supported by Mt. San Jacinto College
ALLEN PURCHIS (Lear) Allen has performed through out the southern California area winning numerous theatrical awards for drama, comedy, musical and classical theater. He appeared in Our Town for P.A.T.H. (Performing Arts Theater for the Handicapped} in San Marcos and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for the Temecula Valley Playhouse. His credits are too long to list but some of his favorite productions here in the valley include Othello, Lion in Winter, Out of my Father's House, to name a few. His work here at the Ramona Bowl consists of the following: Seven seasons in the Ramona Pageant appearing as Juan Canito; As a founding member of the San Jacinto Shakespeare Company he has appeared as Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Sir Toby in Twelfth Night and Iago in Othello and Claudius in Hamlet. He directed and sang in The Death and Life Of Sneaky Fitch in the Ramona Bowl Courtyard Dinner Theater and has directed Love Letters and Parallel Lives for the Temecula Valley Playhouse. For five years Allen was a judge with the Inland Theater League. He was the artistic director of V.I.T.A.L. (Valley-Wide Intergenerational Theater As Learning) where he enjoyed working with actors of all ages as well as pursuing his passion for writing and directing. When spare time permits he can be found writing original material and playing guitar with his friends. Allen lives with his wife Sue, and their horses, dogs and cats on Red Mountain near Sage California.
COLEY O'BRIEN MCAVOY (Director) During his ten-year residency in the Inland Valley, Coley has become a vibrant fixture in the Inland Valley Arts Community. His twenty-five year acting career has spanned the east and west coast, with over one hundred productions to his credit. Amongst his many achievements, Coley is a founding member of two award-winning theatre companies: the Murrieta Repertory Theatre (MRT) and the San Jacinto Shakespeare Festival, as well as the proud recipient of 14 Inland Theatre League Awards for acting excellence. This season, Coley has appeared in MRT's productions of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men in the role of George, as well as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change as Man #2. In addition, he was also featured in The Fine Art Network's recent acclaimed production of Dangerous Liaisons as the Vicomte de Valmont. Some of his other credits include the roles of John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Danny Zuko in Grease, and the title role in Hamlet.