THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III: till 15 November
THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III: Alan Bennett
Joint Birmingham Rep and West Yorkshire Playhouse Prod)
Birmingham Rep: 0121 236 4455
Runs: 2h 45m, one interval, till 15 November
Review: Rod Dungate, 23 October 2003
Grand production of an intelligent but flawed play
It looks and sounds splendid. Marvellous costumes, wigs in all shapes and sizes, glittering wit in Bennett's highly intelligent script and an elegant and elegantly simple set from Francis O'Connor. So how come I feel as if I've been at a marvellous dinner but had nothing to eat more substantial than hors d'oeuvres?
Bennett's play is not just about George III's painful descent into mental illness and subsequent recovery (in reality intermittent porphyria) but also about the political manoeuvrings inside and outside the UK and the embryonic and far-reaching changes within the British Constitution. We see a key period in the development of our constitution. The play also explores the period's attitudes to and treatment of mental disorders.
Somewhere within the important and mightily intriguing debate walks King George III. Michael Pennington's performance could hardly be bettered: at times he's amusingly abrupt, at others solemn and thoughtful. His portrayal of the king's madness is intellectually touching and, indeed, reminiscent of many a Lear (cleverly introduced into the play). He capers and sobs and sighs with moving honesty. I particularly like the opening scenes in which we see the working king: astute and energetic. But Pennington's performance is somehow imprisoned by the panoply around him by the sheer weight of the play.
The entire production is like a magnificent pageant. Maybe director Rachel Kavanaugh is after this distanced effect so that we can contemplate the arguments within the text. If so, it's a mistake we are clever enough to follow the arguments and empathise with the main character. But rather, I suspect it's an inherent flaw within the play itself.
Many other terrific performances. Paul Raffield's cool as a frozen cucumber Pitt, Timothy Watson's smoothie equerry, Fitzroy and Daniel Crowder's touching Greville. Much to be admired is Alison Fiske's humanly dotty, emotionally generous and much underused Queen Charlotte.
King George III: Michael Pennington
Queen Charlotte: Alison Fiske
Prince of Wales: Stewart Wright
Duke of York: Rufus Wright
Margaret Nicholson: Julia St John
Pitt: Paul Raffield
Dundas: Alastair Cording
Thurlow: David Killick
Fox: Andy Hockley
Sheridan: Paul Kemp
Fitzroy: Timothy Watson
Greville : Daniel Crowder
Papandiek: Adam Sims
Fortnum: Greg Haiste
Braun: Vincent Penfold
Lady Pembroke: Julia St John
Sir George Baker: Timothy Kightley
Sir Lucas Pepys: Tony Turner
Dr Richard Warren: Ian Barritt
Dr Willis: Ken Drury
Sir Boothby Skrymshir: Tony Turner
Ramsden: Vincent Penfold
Director: Rachel Kavanaugh
Designer: Francis O'Connor
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Mic Pool
Dialect Coaches: Charmian Hoare/ Joan Washington
Etiquette Advisor: Sally Woodfield
Fight Director: John Waller
Assistant Director: Sarah Punshon
2003-10-24 14:23:38