New Westminster seniors and youth were treated to a special presentation by City Stage New West on Feb. 27.
The local theatre company previewed scenes from its upcoming Lear events and gave 40 participants a chance to try their hand at some Shakespeare in a free event.
The event, dubbed Enduring Age, Enduring Youth: King - and Queen - Lear, explored youth and senior themes in Shakespeare's King Lear and Eugene Stickland's contemporary comedy Queen Lear.
City Stage New West is currently working on a Lear double-header, with concert readings of Queen Lear coming up on Sunday, March 18 and King Lear on Sunday, April 22.
Stickland's contemporary Canadian comedy tells the story of an aging actress cast in an all-female version of King Lear, who struggles with memory and hires a teenager to help her learn her lines.
Colleen Winton will direct Marilyn Norry as the aging Jane, along with Rachel Harrison as her young assistant Heather. Cellist Peggy Lee joins them on stage.
The next month, veteran actor Richard Newman will take to the stage as King Lear, with Russell Roberts as Gloucester, in King Lear, directed by Rene Bucciarelli.
The young supporting class includes new Douglas College grads Marc Antony Williams and Sarah Canero and New Westminster Secondary School student Luke McAndless Davis, along with Adele Norohna, Afshin Haidari, Frances Kitson, Kenn Mcleod, Leslei Dos Remedios, Lilli Clark, Munish Sharma, Veronique West and Adam Weidl.
Both shows are at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 514 Carnarvon St., in downtown New West.
Tickets are $15 general or $12 for seniors and students. See www.brownpapertickets.ca.
For more on the Lear events, see www.citystagenewwest.org.
