Rachel Sleek-Bañuelos and Madeline Meyer
Babes With Blades Presents KING LEAR Review - The Tragedy of the 80s
TLDR: All the theatrical elements for Babes With Blades’ production of King Lear point to the 80s from the soundtrack, to the costumes, to the coke fueled rage. The modern context brings a different perspective to the themes in the work, adds extra depth for the actors to bring out in their characters, and exercises the literary analysis part of our brains.
Kathrynne Wolf, Jennifer Mohr, and Lynne Baker
Shakespeare In The 80s
Massive marble pillars stand around a platform stage with three chairs and a large throne set in the middle. There’s music playing over the speakers for the pre-show. The Police, Cyndi Lauper, and Duran Duran set us firmly in the 80s as everyone is the audience air drums to the solo in Phil Collin’s In the Air Tonight.
With the grand sound of trumpets, the royal family makes their way to the platform waving at everyone in the crowd. They’re also in what looks like modern day clothing with the ladies in suits with shoulder pads, boldly patterned ties for the men, and a little grunge/punk vibes for the plebians.
Paparazzi shout questions at King Lear as she takes pictures with her daughters before her huge press conference. This moment feels the height of celebrity culture so of course King Lear wants all the pomp and circumstance for her retirement announcement. She wants the whole world to see how generous and family oriented she is.
Babes With Blades’ production of King Lear pulls specific themes from this work to the forefront - greed, pride, loyalty, being blinded by societal norms, and the changing times of what family means.
Lynne Baker and Stephanie Mattos
Strong Personalities
Each character has distinct personalities and the choices our actors made to develop these come through in spades.
Edmund and the Duke of Cornwall (played by Thomas Russell and Jillian Leff) both have their drugs of choice. Russell can’t seem to catch a break as every time he’s alone on stage to plot and scheme against his half-brother, someone comes in before he has a chance to light his joint. And when Leff comes barrelling onstage in a coked out haze and chest puffed out ready to challenge anyone in her way.
Morgan Manasa as the Earl of Gloucester has a lot of moments where she’s blind to all the deception that’s going on around her, but ultimately we admire her fierce loyalty.
Kim Boler and Rachel Sleek Bañuelos play the two elder sisters as conniving and spoiled. They’re all too pleased to have their shares of the kingdom increased at the expense of their other sister, but they’ll stop at nothing to outdo each other as well.
Then Lynne Baker as the titular character creates a masterful King Lear. We see a believable decline to King Lear’s madness. She’s a parent who doesn't understand her daughters, driven mad by this generational divide as they go against every single societal formality of how to treat family. As she continues on her journey and buoyed by people truly loyal to her, we see her slowly come back to her senses giving us a fully rounded King Lear.
This production feels like what your high school English teacher would have done to explain the themes of Shakespeare by putting it in a modern context and the cast does a fantastic job bringing them to life.
Thomas Russell and Morgan Manasa
The After Party Thoughts
It was only when the Duke of Cornwall came out with a popped collar underneath her blazer and exited the stage with a big sniff did the theme of the show finally click. And then when you saw it, we suddenly picked up what director Alison Dornheggen was putting down. She pulls out the themes that already existed in King Lear and saw how an 80s themed show with sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll emphasizes them even more.
Did this Babes With Blades production make me have a huge emotional response? Not really. But did it ignite that literary analysis part of my brain and make me think about it and really engage with it? Absolutely.
So for those that are looking for a classic take on Shakespeare, this one probably isn’t for you. But for those that are fans of creative interpretations of his works, then this version of King Lear would be a good fit for you!
RECOMMENDED
Stephanie Mattos and Thomas Russell
When
Now through November 21, 2026
Where
Theater Wit
1229 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL
Runtime: 2hrs 15min, including intermission
Tickets
$28+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Theater Wit box office at (773) 975-8150 or through the Babes With Blades website
Photos
Joe Mazza/brave lux
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Kathrynne Wolf and Kim Fukawa
CAST
Lynne Baker (King Lear)
Kim Fukawa (Oswald/Duke of Burgundy, Edgar U/S)
Carrie Hardin (King Lear U/S)
Jillian Leff (Duke of Cornwall)
Morgan Manasa (Earl of Gloucester)
Jennifer L. Mickelson (Duke of Albany/Ensemble)
Jennifer Mohr (Cordelia/Fool)
Thomas Russell (Edmund)
Kathrynne Wolf (Earl of Kent)
Kim Boler (Goneril)
Sarah Cushman (Goneril/Duke of Albany/Ensemble U/S)
Dani De la Rosa (Ensemble/Edmund and Duke of Cornwall U/S)
Stephanie Mattos (Edgar)
Sophia Lanza-Weil (Earl of Gloucester/Ensemble U/S)
Madeline Meyer (Ensemble/Oswald and Kent U/S)
Megan Parlett (Regan/Ensemble U/S)
Rachel Sleek Bañuelos (Regan)
Brittani Yawn (Ensemble/Cordelia and Fool U/S)
CREATIVE
Line Bower (Technical Director)
Alison Dornheggen (Director)
Hayley Rice (Text Coach)
Payton Shearn (Production Assistant)
Laura J. Wiley (Lighting Designer)
Adri Andreolas (Assistant Stage Manager)
Jessie Gowens (Costume Designer)
Hannah Foerschler (Sound Designer)
Tristan Hall (Intimacy Designer)
Rose Hamill (Production Manager)
Morgan Lazlo (Scenic Designer)
Arielle Leverett (Assistant Director)
Ryan Liddell (Assistant Fight Choreographer)
Elena Lindeman (Props Designer)
Grace Elizabeth Mealey (Stage Manager)
Jess Pennachio (Fight Director)