Ian McKellen's masterful portrayal of the title character in King Lear is but one of the strengths of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production, directed by Trevor Nunn, and now playing a limited engagement at the BAM Harvey Theater in repertory with the RSC's The Seagull.

As the play opens, McKellen's Lear is already in obvious physical decline. He is frequently short of breath and seems to suffer from heart trouble. His main worry, however, is that he will go mad. When pushed to his limits by his ungrateful daughters Goneril (Frances Barber) and Regan (Monica Dolan), he finally does. Yet, the unhinging of his mind also gives this Lear a renewed physical robustness. It's when he comes ba[...]