In a fictional recreation, we are at a Broadway production company in 1980. Three producers plan a major high profile production of King Lear. They debate whether to cast Richard Burton or Bob Keeshan. (They were both about 55.). The casting comparison is absurd, but argue the two choices seriously, something of an absurd black comedy.
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In our fictional Broadway office, the scene is lively and slightly chaotic, framed by posters of past hits and a haze of cigarette smoke. The three producers—Marty, a grizzled theater veteran; Sara, a sharp-witted former actress; and Leo, the avant-garde risk-taker—are embroiled in an intense and rather surreal debate over the casting of King Lear.
Marty slams his coffee cup on the table, his eyes alight with passion. "Richard Burton, folks! The man's voice alone could raise the dead. His Hamlet at the Old Vic? Legendary! Imagine him delivering 'Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!' The audience will be on their feet!"
Sara, ever the pragmatist, raises an eyebrow and retorts, "Sure, Marty, if we want a guaranteed critic-pleaser. But think outside the box—Bob Keeshan. Captain Kangaroo as King Lear? It’s bold, it’s fresh. It would be the talk of the town! His gentle demeanor could bring a whole new layer to Lear’s madness. It's innovative; it's what Broadway needs!"
Leo, swirling his brandy, jumps in with a gleam in his eye. "Imagine the publicity! ‘From kids’ TV to Shakespearean tragedy: Bob Keeshan in a role of a lifetime!’ We'll draw in curiosity seekers, Shakespeare aficionados, and hell, every grandparent in the tri-state area! Burton is a safe bet, yes, but safe is boring. Keeshan is a gamble... and gambles can pay off big."
Marty scoffs, shaking his head. "You’re both mad! Richard Burton brings gravitas, pedigree. We’re talking about a man who's tangled with the likes of Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. He’s King Lear just by walking into the room. Bob Keeshan? Lovely guy, but he wears a pocket full of posies, not the weight of a crumbling kingdom."
Sara leans forward, her voice calm but firm. "Think of the narrative, Marty. Bob's transformation from a beloved children’s entertainer to a tragic monarch. It's a metamorphosis that speaks to the very heart of acting. Plus, we need something that breaks the mold. Burton will sell tickets, sure. But Keeshan? He'll sell out."
Leo nods, raising his glass. "To the unexpected! Where art meets life, and life turns into legend. Burton or Keeshan, we’re making history either way. Let’s put it to a vote—tradition or transformation?"
As the producers cast their votes, the discussion encapsulates not just a choice of actor, but a deeper question about the nature of theater itself: Is it to comfort the disturbed, or to disturb the comfortable? The absurdity of the debate itself becomes a reflection of the unpredictability and audacity that defines Broadway.
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Claude.ai [which was initially concerned that King Lear was under copyright.]
Producer 1: "Gentlemen, I have the most brilliant idea for our King Lear revival - we cast Robert freaking Keeshan as Lear!"
Producer 2: spits out his drink "Keeshan? As in Captain Kangaroo? You're completely crackers!"
Producer 3: slapping his knee "Wait, I love where this is headed! Can we get the Treasure House Puppet pals as Lear's knights?"
Producer 1: "Precisely! Just imagine - the iconic children's host decked out in Lear's regal robes, raving and descending into madness before a bewildered audience. It will be the theatrical scandal of the century!"
Producer 2: "This is certifiable! You want the beloved Mr. Rogers' doppelganger to play one of Shakespeare's most tragic figures? It's sacrilege, I tell you!"
Producer 3: cackling "That's the genius of it! The whiplash from those warm Kangaroo vibes to Keeshan growling 'Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise' - oh, the drastic tonal shifts will scar audiences for life!"
Producer 1: "Exactly! We'll have kids crying in the aisles when Kaptain Kangaroo starts plucking out Gloucester's eyes. It'll be avant-garde brilliance!"
Producer 2: "But...but surely we should at least consider a Shakespearean actor with some theatrical heft? What about Richard Burton? His sonorous baritone could shake the rafters as Lear."
Producer 3: waving a hand dismissively "Pish-posh, Burton would be dreadfully pedestrian. I want to see Keeshan in that ludicrous Kangaroo costume, ranting and raving at the storm! Can't you just picture it?"
Producer 1: pounding the table "Yes, yes! With Bunny Rabbit as the meek Cordelia and Mr. Moose braying as the Fool! This will be legendary, I tell you!"
Producer 2: despairing "You're both completely around the twist. But I must admit...there's an appealingly absurd.....no, no, I can't even justifythis madness."
Producers 1 & 3: clinking glasses raucously "To Captain Kangaroo, the maddest King Lear that ever did stalk the boards! This'llbloody well burn the theater down!"
