KING LEAR (The Royal Social Distancing Company, Winter 2020)

In the new and terrifying world of virtual theatre, it’s a relief to be able to cling to some clear-spoken, compelling Shakespeare, and The Royal Social Distancing Company’s KING LEAR provided just the life raft. Josh Lee, though young for the leading role, painted a vivid picture of the rash and declining monarch through the Zoom screen, while his three daughters (Gabrielle Heckler’s steely Goneril, Audrey Fosson’s vicious Regan, and Saleemah Sharpe’s truly upstanding Cordelia) each gave colorful and evocative performances without turning the sensational proceedings into camp. Other standouts included Avery Banks and Joe Staton as warring brothers Edmund and Edgar — Banks brought a quiet danger to the breeches role of the bastard, and Staton’s Edgar was heartbreaking in his vulnerability (while bringing us some much-needed clarity in the Poor Tom bits).

This was a limited-engagement performance; for more information, check out The Royal Social Distancing Co. on Instagram.