QUICK TAKES - Jan. 3, 2009

It’s reasonable to assume that more than a few Southern California theater buffs were left raging against the cruelty of fate and the human condition back in October 2007. They had been victimized not by stone-hearted daughters but by forces of supply and demand that conspired against their scoring tickets to see Ian McKellen and the Royal Shakespeare Company in a very limited run of “King Lear” at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Scalpers were commanding Springsteenian prices -- upward of $1,500 a ticket -- for ducats to one of the six performances (top face value: $90).

Now comes the consolation prize for the ticketless: Following their performances on tour, Sir Ian and the rest of the key cast members seen in L.A. taped the play for television cameras in a British studio, under the eye of director Trevor Nunn. The result is scheduled to be broadcast starting March 25 on PBS stations, courtesy of the “Great Performances” series produced by New York’s WNET.

-- Mike Boehm