Director's Commentary  In the end, it was magnificent. Sixteen actors and one stage manager gave 100% commitment and energy towards putting Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy on the stage. Not only that but doing it bloody well. Not only THAT but many had never performed a word of the Bard before. AND all in the shortest rehearsal time that we get. Not surprisingly, it was a bit of a trek getting there but, once again, the Chameleons showed that we are the finest and bravest drama group in the area. I hugely enjoyed directing and playing in it Ray

Quote, Unquote  A scary one, this, for all sorts of reasons. A massive play with a massive cast, and I had to play cross-gender again! As usual for the Chameleons, everyone put huge effort in, even so it was a bit skin-of-the-teeth. I think we got a full cast for the first time on the Wednesday dress rehearsal, so Ray had a bit of a tricky one. That said, he managed to stay calm under duress, and I really appreciated his help and advice in telling me what the flippin' heck I was supposed to be saying! I liked the way the eyeballs bounced, but wasn't so keen on having to scrub red face paint out of my suit every night! I liked the interpretation of Regan and Cornwall getting off on other people's pain, that added a whole new dimension of sinister. Neal's abbreviated toga will live in my memory for some time to come. I really didn't like wearing the Red Zorro mask!! I'm trying to resist the temptation to single out individual performances, as I think everyone played a blinder (pun intended, oh yes!!) but I'd like to say respect to Ray, not only for learning all those lines (well....more or less....!!!!) but also for his directorial style, and for putting in a stonking performance Ailsa
Gonerill has to be the best part I've ever played and I hope my best performance. It was fantastic and I loved her. My first Shakespeare (okay, apart from a part in the Chorus of Timon of Athens as a student, which I can't remember at all). What a fantastic group that we dare, and we care enough, to take on Shakespeare! Jane
Until a couple of weeks before the performance, I wasn't sure whether we were going to pull this one of, but I think it's fair to say we did! There were some very strong performances throughout - Simon was excellent as Kent, and as Jack's confidence grew, so did his interpretation of the role. As for myself, the Fool was an interesting if not particularly easy part, and I can only hope I did it some justice Miranda
Although I came in to the production at a late date it was very clear that every single cast member had put a tremendous amount hard work in, and it was also great to have two new members taking part in the production. King Lear was a good choice and the audiences all enjoyed it Jenny
Jack was excellent as Edmund. For a seventeen year old to take on such a demanding role and do it brilliantly was awesome. But let's face it, everyone was great and we had a successful production Betty
That was an epic, just a pity the seats at Northern aren't more comfortable Maurice

The Audience Won't Notice  On the final night, disaster almost struck at the very end. Ray, as Lear had just died and Louise, playing the equally dead Cordelia, lay on his chest. The final words were spoken and the lights went down. As Ray and Louise stood up to do the curtain call they realised that Louise's hair had got caught round one Ray's shirt buttons. As he stood up, he nearly pulled her scalp off and they spent what seemed like minutes struggling to loosen it, all the time dreading the lights coming up and the audience being exposed to a sight straight out of a Brian Rix farce. Fortunately by pulling the button off - it flew across the stage with an audible ping - Ray saved the situation and the lights came up on a scene of kingly decorum, thanks mainly to Emma, the lighting technician at Northern who had discerned though the gloom that something odd was going on. (Louise's cry of pain may have had something to do with it) Still, a close call!