Game of Thrones Mad King play gets ovation after preview delays
The RSC and HBO prequel finally began previews in Stratford-Upon-Avon after cancellations, with a four-hour first show running smoothly.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
The Game of Thrones Mad King play has finally faced its first audience, and Variety reported that the HBO and Royal Shakespeare Company production was met with a standing ovation Tuesday night in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
The preview marked the first public performance of the stage prequel after a troubled start that saw several scheduled shows called off. Variety reported that the four-hour performance went ahead without an unscheduled pause.
Before the curtain rose, director Dominic Cooke told theatergoers they were attending a world premiere, according to Variety. He also warned that, because the show was still in previews, a technical problem could force a stop and bring the stage manager onstage.
That warning did not turn into reality. The performance ran through without the kind of interruption Cooke had flagged.
What is the Game of Thrones Mad King play?
The production’s full title is George R. R. Martin’s Game Of Thrones: The Mad King. It is an HBO and Royal Shakespeare Company co-production set before the events of HBO’s Game of Thrones television series.
The play is being staged at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the English town known as William Shakespeare’s birthplace. Its official opening is scheduled for Aug. 8.
Why were The Mad King previews canceled?
The show had been set to begin previews on July 20, but producers canceled the first four performances, saying they needed more time to develop and refine the production in real time, Variety reported.
The Royal Shakespeare Company later said the July 25 preview was expected to proceed, according to Variety, but that performance was also canceled just hours before showtime.
The Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald reported that Cooke told the first-preview audience the company had not completed a full onstage run-through during rehearsals because time had run short. According to the local newspaper, Cooke said he would be seeing the whole production onstage for the first time along with the audience.
The cancellations were especially painful for some ticket-holders because Stratford-Upon-Avon is about two hours from London. Variety reported that some people complained online, with some saying they had traveled from as far away as Canada.
How did the first audience react?
An RSC representative told Variety the team had already received strong reaction by email and online, with audience members singling out the acting, sound, lighting and puppetry.
According to the RSC representative, one attendee praised the set, particularly the throne, and said the animals, including the dragon and horses, looked lifelike. Another audience member called the puppetry the most impressive they had seen onstage, Variety reported.
In response to the canceled previews, the RSC has added several extra performances. Variety reported that few tickets remain available for the rest of the show’s two-month run.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.