Theatre and Film, Johnny Carson School of
Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film: Theses, Student Research, and Creative Work
First Advisor
Harris Smith
Date of this Version
Spring 4-22-2010
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts
Major: Theatre Arts
Under the supervision of Professor Harris Smith
Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2010
Abstract
The Duke of Cornwall, created by the world’s most popular and influential playwright in history, William Shakespeare, is a complex, compelling, and controversial character brought forth to life in the pages of King Lear. In accordance to guidelines established by the University of Nebraska, the following graduate thesis will provide a basic outline of my journey through the challenges of understanding, developing, and ultimately performing the role of Cornwall in Shakespeare’s King Lear. The Duke of Cornwall was a challenging and often difficult role to embody and understand due to several factors, such as interpreting his motivations, understanding his part in context to the entire play, and finding a successful way to combine my essence as a person and a performer with a character who embodies pure malice, mayhem, and madness. I will also provide personal insight into the process that I discovered and used, mainly through trial and error, to bring the Duke of Cornwall to life on King Lear’s opening night.
Adviser: Harris Smith
Comments
Copyright 2010, Kyle Broussard. Used by permission