McKellen's LEAR on PBS…fully clothed

The news has been making it around the web that PBS, which is broadcasting a performance of the Trevor Nunn production of King Lear starring Ian McKellen on March 23, had decided to Bowdlerize the televised version by eliminating McKellen’s full frontal nudity in one scene, presumably the “Blow, winds!” mad scene. Sir Ian, with his usual good humor, took the opportunity of the occasion to comment on his own performance in that scene thusly:

“Every night, when I’d take my clothes off, you know what I used to do? Pull in my stomach. That’s pathetic. I was playing an old man. I should have let it all hang out, and I couldn’t do that.”

Belly in, belly out, fully-clothed, butt-naked, or in a chicken suit…I’ll be there.