The Motive and the Cue

The Motive and the Cue is a play written by Jack Thorne. The production opened, directed by Sam Mendes premiered on 21 April 2023 at the National Theatre in London. The play revolves around the history behind the 1964 Broadway modern-dress production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Richard Burton in a production directed by Sir John Gielgud. As rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel.[1][2] The original cast includes Johnny Flynn as Burton, Mark Gatiss as Gielgud, and Tuppence Middleton as Elizabeth Taylor.[3]

The Motive and the Cue
Written byJack Thorne
Directed bySam Mendes
Date premiered21 April 2023
Place premieredNational Theatre
London
Original languageEnglish
SubjectHistory, Acting, Shakespeare
GenreDrama
Setting1960s New York City

Background

The play was written by Jack Thorne and directed by Sam Mendes. Mendes who previously collaborated with production designer Es Devlin on The Lehman Trilogy returns as a collaborator on this production. The production runs 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Plot

The play revolves around the dynamic and tense relationship between a young, enthusiastic Richard Burton and an aging Sir John Gielgud during a 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet.

Cast and characters
Role National Theatre
2023
Richard Burton Johnny Flynn
Sir John Gielgud Mark Gatiss
Elizabeth Taylor Tuppence Middleton
Hume Cronyn Allan Corduner
George Voskovec Ryan Ellsworth
William Redfield Luke Norris
Jessica Levy Aysha Kala

Production

London (2023)

The play originated at the National Theatre, written by Jack Thorne, and directed by Sam Mendes, with previews opening on 21 April 2023.

West End (2023)

Following the play's success at the National Theatre, the production will transfer to the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End from 9 December 2023 for a limited run until 23 March 2024. Flynn, Gatiss and Middleton will reprise their roles as Burton, Gielgud and Taylor.[4]

Reception

Critical reception for the play has been mostly positive, in particular for the leading performance of Sir John Gielgud by Mark Gatiss. The Independents theatre critic Jessie Thompson declared, "It’s Gatiss, as Gielgud, who owns this show. He deserves all the superlatives for a performance of restrained, quiet dignity, laced with sharp wit."[5] The Evening Standard described the production as "elegant" and "a love letter to theatre".[6] The Telegraphs Dominic Cavendish hailed the play as "a witty, deft, touching evocation of a fascinating, fraught encounter that captures the mood of those times".[7] In Arifa Akbar of The Guardian's mixed review she praised the performances but noted "Ultimately, this play-about-the-play leaves us wishing we had been there to see Burton in the real thing."[8]

References
  1. "The Motive and the Cue". National Theatre. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  2. "Breaking Baz: West End Hitmaker Sam Mendes Is Right On Cue With Richard Burton, John Gielgud & Elizabeth Taylor In London's Hottest New Play; Take That Pray 'Greatest Days' Film Will Shine". Deadline Hollywood. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  3. "Sam Mendes Casts Johnny Flynn, Tuppence Middleton & Mark Gatiss As Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor & John Gielgud In Hot New Play". Deadline Hollywood. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  4. https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/the-motive-and-the-cue-to-transfer-to-the-west-end_1358058/
  5. "The Motive and the Cue review: Burton/Gielgud luvvie-off will give you goosebumps". The Independent. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  6. "The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre review: Sam Mendes's elegant production is a love letter to theatre". Evening Standard. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  7. Cavendish, Dominic (2 May 2023). "The Motive and the Cue: To see or not to see? No question – go". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  8. Akbar, Arifa (3 May 2023). "The Motive and the Cue review – Gielgud and Burton battle it out". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
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