In this Mindworks in Conversation, actor and Shakespeare teacher Charles E. Gerber invites us into the emotional world behind A King’s Curtain, a powerful short film where he portrays Richard Easley, a veteran performer slipping into dementia yet still anchored by the poetry that shaped his life.
When our memories fade, what remains of us?
In this Mindworks in Conversation, actor and Shakespeare teacher Charles E. Gerber invites us into the emotional world behind A King’s Curtain, a powerful short film where he portrays Richard Easley, a veteran performer slipping into dementia yet still anchored by the poetry that shaped his life.
With decades of stage, screen, and teaching experience, Gerber brings both gravitas and tenderness to this role. The film weaves themes of legacy, memory, art, and family with quiet urgency, a story that speaks to anyone who has loved someone through cognitive decline or wondered what parts of us endure as memory begins to disappear.
For Gerber, the role became a natural culmination of his lifelong devotion to Shakespeare and the interconnected work of actor and educator. In his own words, it is a love letter to Shakespeare, to families, and to the journey of not giving up.
Why Watch This Conversation?
Gerber’s insights reach beyond performance into the heart of what storytelling offers, connection, reflection, and transformation. You can learn more about the film here: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1585629465/
In this conversation, we talk about:
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How Shakespeare persists even when memory fades
Gerber shares why actors with dementia can still recite Shakespeare, and what that reveals about art, memory, and the brain. -
The emotional truth behind Richard Easley’s character
How the film mirrors King Lear and why the role felt like a culmination of Gerber’s life in the theater. -
The film’s origin story
How a student’s idea became an award-winning short, and why Gerber immediately said, “Write it.” -
Art as legacy
What performance leaves behind in us, and what remains when words, relationships, and timelines begin to blur. -
Family, caregiving, and the weight of goodbye
Gerber reflects on the daughter–father dynamic in the film and the quiet realities of caring for someone losing themselves. -
The intersection of teaching and performance
Why this project sits at the center of Gerber’s dual paths as actor and educator. -
The film’s unexpected resonance
Festival wins, audience reactions, and why the story touches so many people navigating dementia in real life.
