King Lear (Play) - StageAgent.com

King Lear

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Type:	Play
Written By:	William Shakespeare

Synopsis:	The great King Lear of Britain is ready to retire, and he decides to divide his realm among his three daughters. Whichever one who proves that she loves him most will receive the largest part. Goneril and Regan flatter him, but Cordelia speaks honestly. Angered by what she says, King Lear disinherits her, though the King of France still chooses to marry her. Goneril and Regan privately ridicule their father, and eventually, they start mistreating him, infringing upon his privileges. Edmund, the bastard son of the Duke of Gloucester, schemes to overthrow his brother, Edgar, the legitimate heir, and ends up doing so by disgracing him. Gloucester exiles Edgar, but he tries to assist King Lear, who has run off into the rain. When a French army arrives on the border, as per King Lear’s request, Regan’s husband, the Duke of Cornwall, has Gloucester’s eyes gouged out. Edgar, the Duke, and King Lear then wander around the kingdom, Edgar with his now blind father and King Lear with his beloved Fool. The Earl of Kent, still loyal to the King, leads him to the French army and his daughter, Cordelia. However, he is now insane and inconsolable. The British forces defeat the French, and both Lear and Cordelia are captured. Edmund manipulates both Goneril and Regan into loving him, and Goneril poisons Regan in retaliation. When the Duke of Albany, Goneril’s husband, reveals Edmund’s scheming, Edgar kills Edmund and reveals himself. Goneril commits suicide shortly later. Under Edmund’s secret orders, Cordelia is killed, though Lear managed to slay her executioner. Lear dies of grief, and depending on the version of the play, either Edgar or the Duke of Albany is crowned king.
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King Lear Characters
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Name	Gender	Vocal Part	Age Range	Role Type
Edgar	male	spoken	25 – 35	lead
Earl of Gloucester	N/A	spoken	40 – 70	lead
King Lear	male	spoken	50 – 80	lead
Edmund	male	spoken	20 – 30	lead
Goneril	female	spoken	25 – 35	supporting
Regan	female	spoken	20 – 30	supporting
Cordelia	female	spoken	18 – 28	supporting
Duke of Albany	male	spoken	30 – 50	supporting
Duke of Cornwall	male	spoken	30 – 50	supporting
Earl of Kent	male	spoken	40 – 70	supporting
Fool	male	spoken	30 – 50	supporting
Gentleman	male	spoken	20 – 40	supporting
Oswald	male	spoken	20 – 40	supporting
Duke of Burgundy	male	spoken	20 – 40	cameo
King of France	male	spoken	25 – 45	cameo
Curan	male	spoken	20 – 40	cameo
Old Man	male	spoken	50 – 80	cameo
Doctor	male	spoken	20 – 50	cameo
Officer	male	spoken	20 – 40	cameo
Herald	male	spoken	20 – 50	cameo
Servant 1	male	spoken	20 – 50	cameo
Servant 2	male	spoken	20 – 50	cameo
Servant 3	male	spoken	20 – 50	cameo