About the Play

Our hour-long production uses the original poetic language, with the narrative trimmed and shaped to reflect our interest in the themes of family dynamics among a mother and her daughters, the disbursal of generational wealth, aging in a female body, the blind expectations of privilege, and loyalty and love of chosen and blood family. It features multiple costume and character changes, original music, and striking ensemble work.

This is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear by Karl Sikkenga, Kate Bennis, Miller Susen, with input from the original cast.

The song, Let Joy Grieve, is written by Anya Movius. All of the language in the song is from Shakespeare’s plays, though not from King Lear.

People and Relationships in the Play

Queen Lear

Mother of three daughters: Goneril, the eldest, Regan, the middle-child, and Cordelia, the youngest.

Goneril

Eldest daughter of Queen Lear, wife of Albany, takes her sister Regan’s husband, Cornwall, as a lover.

Regan

Second daughter of Queen Lear, wife of Cornwall.

Cordelia

Youngest daughter of Queen Lear. Banished by Lear in the first scene. She marries France and moves to France.

Kent

Dear friend and confidant of Queen Lear. When Lear banishes Kent, she disguises herself as a man and earns Lear’s trust as a servant.

Fool

Servant and jester to Queen Lear.

Oswald

Servant to Queen Lear, then to Goneril, then to Regan.

Burgundy

Suiter to Cordelia who rejects her when her dowry is withdrawn.

About the Company

We are Cottage Industry, an all-female performance and production troupe based in Charlottesville, VA.