Actor Charles Lear

ISC News:

Charles Lear presents a one-man production of King Richard III at International Shakespeare Center (ISC) 7 p.m., July 17 and July 18, at 3209A Calle Marie in Santa Fe.

Lear has been active in theatre for more than 40 years. He has produced, directed, taught and acted, is a produced playwright, and makes the bulk of his living as a union (I.A.T.S.E) stagehand/carpenter/welder.

His focus as an actor these days is on Shakespeare, and he was a member of the Stag and Lion Shakespeare Company, which has a theatre on West 57th Street in Manhattan, up until his move to New Mexico.

This production of Richard III as a one-man show was born out of a desire to present the show in a COVID-safe manner. It was performed and well received last October at the rodeo grounds in Magdalena.

This is an abbreviated version of the play as all scenes where Richard does not appear have been cut. It uses no props or scenery and relies on Shakespeare’s words to tell the story.

In Shakespeare’s day, Elizabethans went to “hear a play” and this production has been developed with that in mind.