Let's face it - there aren't many happy moments in King Lear. In fact, it may be the most bleak of all Shakespeare's plays, exemplifying both current and classical notions of tragedy. This program presents an enactment of Act IV, Scene 7, among the play's more lyrical and less ominous passages. A group of young British actors rehearses and performs a splendid rendition of the king's reunion with his daughter Cordelia. As a brief discussion afterwards suggests, the scene is imbued with modern ambiguities even as it reminds viewers of the fateful impact of Lear's earlier decisions.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on March 03, 2011. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Shakespeare's Globe, London: Introduction to Shakespeare (1:00) -- Overview of "King Lear" (1:53) -- "King Lear": Rehearsal, Act IV, Scene 7 (0:58) -- "King Lear": Performance, Act IV, Scene 7 (8:45) -- Discussion About "King Lear" (1:23) -- Credits: "King Lear": Young Actors in Training (0:59).