The actors from the Lit Moon Theatre Company from Santa Barbara, USA, performed the world premiere of “King Lear” by William Shakespeare as part of the American evening at the “Ohrid Summer” festival yesterday.
Created by artists from North Macedonia, Armenia, Finland, and the USA, the play is directed by the exceptional John Blondell, inspired by the setting of the vestibule of the church “St. Sophia.” The set and costumes are designed by the renowned Macedonian designer Blagoj Micevski, marking his second premiere at this year’s “Ohrid Summer” following the recent “The Seagull” with the Bitola National Theatre.
The performance vividly portrayed scenes and visually narrated stories told in Shakespeare’s language through the actors’ play. The show evoked lost worlds and past times, atmospheres filled with ancient rituals, spirits, and dreams, combining straightforward storytelling and original music.
“The whole play is filled with references to blindness, not physical but inner blindness… the tragedy of being blind despite having eyes,” said lead actor Irwin Appel, who plays King Lear.
The play intertwines stories of two families. In one, Lear divides his kingdom among the two daughters who flatter him, banishing the youngest daughter who genuinely loves him. In the other story, the Duke of Gloucester trusts the son who betrays him but doubts his loyal son. The stories eventually merge into one with much pain.
Founded in 1991, the Lit Moon Theatre Company is a collective of theatre artists based in Santa Barbara. Its mission is to offer theatrical experiences that expand and deepen the understanding of world theatre and cultural traditions, promoting and inspiring intercultural understanding through live theatre performance. Since 1992, Lit Moon has created 45 new theatre projects, produced thirteen international theatre festivals, and received dozens of awards for its artists.
John Blondell has won 13 independent theatre awards and received a faculty research award from Westmont College in 2003. In 2013, he was named Teacher of the Year and a “local hero” for his “tireless dedication” to the international theatre community. To date, John has directed over 100 productions in the USA, Europe, and Asia.
