Review: LEAR'S FOOL, Bard in the Botanics

David Henry Wilson’s play makes its Scottish debut

By: Sep. 20, 2023
Review: LEAR'S FOOL, Bard in the Botanics

Review: LEAR'S FOOL, Bard in the Botanics

Lear's Fool by David Henry Wilson makes its Scottish debut and is staged by Bard in the Botanics. The play looks at what happened to The Fool who mysteriously disappears in King Lear. 

Despite many years of theatre-going, I'm relatively new to Shakespeare but Bard in the Botanics has been consistently accessible when I've been. In the programme is a brief summary of the plot of King Lear and how The Fool disappears at the height of the King's madness in the original text. 

Lear's Fool begins with The Fool (Nicole Cooper) being led into a prison by a guard- John (Sam Stopford). The Fool tries to engage a reluctant John but he is fast won over by her charm and humour. His captain (Johnny Panchaud) commands him to prepare for battle and questions The Fool as to what she has learned from the King before he went mad. 

The setup of the performance stage in Kibble Palace is traverse style so the audience is fully immersed in the action. With it being pitch black outside by the time of performance, the darkness above the glass ceiling and the rain battering down is wonderfully atmospheric for this tragedy. 

The writing is grim at times but peppered with humour and this is where Nicole Cooper truly excels. She's a mischievous joker but also human, and devastated by the downfall and treatment of the king she is so loyal to. It's touching at times, she is reunited with her King (Finlay McLean) and his beloved Cordelia (Stephanie McGregor) before the final tragic scene plays out. 

Lear's Fool works beautifully as a standalone piece of theatre with some exceptional performances from the whole cast.

Photo credit: Tommy Ka-Ken Wan




RELATED STORIES - Scotland

1
Award Winning Lea Salonga Returns With Dazzling New Tour Photo
Award Winning Lea Salonga Returns With Dazzling New Tour

Lea will launch the tour with her first return to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – the iconic venue where she made her name as the original Miss Saigon 35 years ago – ahead of bringing her spine-tingling vocals to the Festival Theatre on Sunday June 30.

2
Review: ALADDIN, Macrobert Arts Centre Photo
Review: ALADDIN, Macrobert Arts Centre

Get ready for a disco inferno, as we join the McTwank family in the town that Stirling Stella almost forgot- Discotopia. Here lives widow Marge O'Reen McTwank, owner of the last laundrette in town. Her oldest daughter, Aladdin, is wildly in love with Prince Jasper but can love survive the grease stains and smell of fabric conditioner?

3
Review: ALADDIN, Perth Theatre Photo
Review: ALADDIN, Perth Theatre

n their humble abode of Killicrankie, the McTwankie family are in a spin trying to keep their laundry business afloat while the evil Countess searches impatiently for the cave of pleasures, treasures and immeasurable measures. The piece is enjoyable for children, but slightly misses the mark for adults.

4
Xiomaros Big Apple Street Photography To Return To Scotland Photo
Xiomaro's Big Apple Street Photography To Return To Scotland

'Discover the captivating street photography of New York artist Xiomaro in his latest exhibition at the Glasgow Gallery of Photography.'

From This Author - Natalie O'Donoghue

Natalie has been covering for BroadwayWorld Scotland since 2013 and heads up the site's Edinburgh Festival Fringe coverage. Based in Glasgow, she covers as much as she can around Scotland and is a... Natalie O'Donoghue">(read more about this author)

Videos


Robin Morgan: Snip Snip, Bitch in Scotland Robin Morgan: Snip Snip, Bitch
Monkey Barrel Comedy (1/20-1/20)
Vittorio Angelone: Work In Progress in Scotland Vittorio Angelone: Work In Progress
Monkey Barrel Comedy (6/07-6/07)
Lou Conran: Tangent in Scotland Lou Conran: Tangent
Monkey Barrel Comedy (5/16-5/16)
Adam Flood: Remoulded in Scotland Adam Flood: Remoulded
Monkey Barrel Comedy (3/16-3/16)
Catherine Bohart: Work In Progress in Scotland Catherine Bohart: Work In Progress
Monkey Barrel Comedy (1/13-1/13)
Sally-Anne Hayward: Egg Shortage in Scotland Sally-Anne Hayward: Egg Shortage
Monkey Barrel Comedy (2/03-2/03)
Steve Bugeja: Self Doubt (I Think) in Scotland Steve Bugeja: Self Doubt (I Think)
Monkey Barrel Comedy (6/13-6/13)
Vittorio Angelone: Work In Progress in Scotland Vittorio Angelone: Work In Progress
Monkey Barrel Comedy (6/07-6/07)
Ian Smith: Crushing in Scotland Ian Smith: Crushing
Monkey Barrel Comedy (2/24-2/24)
Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore! in Scotland Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore!
Monkey Barrel Comedy (11/24-11/24)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You