The Very Last Production of King Lear, Richard Engling, Polarity Ensemble Books, September 2025, paperback and e-book, 320 pages.
Reviewed by Caroline Huftalen.
Richard Engling’s third book in the Dwayne Finnegan Series, The Very Last Production of King Lear, keeps up the theatrical antics that draw readers into a series like this one. All set in the Chicago storefront theatre scene, the series follows the efforts of the Psychedelic Dream Theatre and their leader Dwayne Finnegan but as their success grows so does the trouble that can arise. In Engling’s latest book, Finnegan’s theatre company is about to get a huge break with a marquee production at The Goodman. But can Finnegan keep his crew of dreamers motivated and on track for opening night, or will everyone’s individual wishes tank their big moment?
The Very Last Production of King Lear starts out right in the action as Finnegan is about to have his first meeting with Reginald Camper, the famed artistic director of The Goodman. A dream meeting that Finnegan feels is already a done deal for his company to produce King Lear on a Goodman stage.
But as with a lot that happens in the novel, nothing comes that easy. We encounter a commercial-famous lawyer turned actor with a temper problem, a scenic designer who may make things go up in flames, and an ensemble cast of characters who if you are familiar with the theatre world, harken your own memories of the necessity of scrappiness and flexibility. If not, you will get an inside look at the imperfections that predate the opening of any show deserving a standing ovation.
Those true to life antics are what make The Very Last Production of King Lear such a joy to read. As someone who has spent many years working in theatre, I have very much encountered similar personalities and trials of will before the curtains open. Each character has such depth and is handled with a large dose of humor as Finnegan navigates making real life work alongside his dream. Which is very much the heart of the book. Yes, there is hilarity and suspense, but Finnegan is more than a satirical character lacking in soul or a privileged view of what it means to be an artist in today’s world. He takes on odd jobs, and pushes himself to the brink to make it all work.
While the characters come off the page and are fully realized, never lacking a detail, the novel itself is dialogue heavy. It keeps the pace quick, but it often loses an opportunity to let us linger in moments that could create richer connections between reader and character. And the moments that Engling creates deserve to be lingered in.
For lovers of theatre, The Very Last Production of King Lear should be your next read. It is a stand alone book, but will definitely make you want to read the rest of the Dwayne Finnegan Series. It will make you want to sit in an audience and imagine what went on behind the scenes before opening night and hope the director had an easier time compared to Finnegan himself.
