The Motive and the Cue - Mark Gatiss & Johnny Flynn star as Gielgud and Burton

The Motive and the Cue - Mark Gatiss & Johnny Flynn star as Gielgud and Burton - review

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5 ай бұрын

★★★★★ 'As close to theatrical perfection as you could hope for,' says Paul Seven Lewis reviewing Mark Gatiss, Johnny Flynn and Tuppence Middleton in The Motive And The Cue. Jack Thorne's new play, directed by Sam Mendes, takes us back to 1964 and the rehearsals for a Broadway show in which the classic actor John Gielgud is directing the turbulent young star Richard Burton as Hamlet. They fight and they learn as they seek out the truth of the Prince's character. The set is by Es Devlin. Originally seen at the National Theatre, this production has transferred to the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End of London (where Gielgud performed his own legendary Hamlet). It closed on 23 March 2024. There are cinema screenings planned over April to June 2024. This is a link to the listing themotiveandthecue.ntlive.com/
Production photos used in this video are by Mark Douet
Paul received a review ticket from the producers
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Пікірлер: 25

@johnh6245 19 күн бұрын

I was there! Within the space of a week I saw the Hamlet production, and then Alec Guinness - superb as Dylan Thomas - in ‘Dylan’!

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 18 күн бұрын

That’s fantastic.

@timhall3575 Ай бұрын

Seeing this on the screen last week (NFT cinematic screenings) has been a pivotal cultural moment for me personally.. I can only speak for myself - a theatrical newbie (I did see Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Branagh back in the day...1988?)..but it blew my mind. I'm 52. I want more. I want more theatre. This was... just incredible. Johnny Flynn. Bloody hell... Gattis. Middleton. Revelatory. Thankyou!!

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven Ай бұрын

I’m so glad to read your comments.

@9494349 4 ай бұрын

I utterly agree, it was a stupendous theatrical experience. Jonny Flynn and Mark Gaitss were acting perfection, Sam Mendes direction just exquisite against Es Devlin's set, all this and I saw it at The Noel Coward Theatre where Richard Burton had performed Hamlet. It was a veritable tour de force, I loved it!

@NectarineSoup 3 ай бұрын

I thought they said at the end that John Gielgud was the one that performed Hamlet at the noel coward theatre. I could be wrong but I think Richard Burtons Hamlet ran in America.

@9494349 3 ай бұрын

Gulp, I think you're correct apologies for my mistake!@@NectarineSoup

@postmanpat2964 5 ай бұрын

I absolutely loved this when I saw it at The Nash. Seeing it again next year and can’t wait. That final scene really gave me the shivers

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 5 ай бұрын

Yes. I didn’t mention that so as not to spoil it, but it is a great ending.

@elenka7353 4 ай бұрын

I saw it at NT. Loved it. A very deserved standing ovation.

@peaceforall1996 4 ай бұрын

Up there with one of the best plays I've ever seen. Definitely close to theatrical perfection, as you say. Thank you for your review!

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 4 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@susanmoore8534 2 ай бұрын

I saw this last night and was blown away by Mark Gatiss' performance. He portrayed Gielgud to perfection; every nuance, his voice, it could have been him. I struggled to hear and understand some fast-moving dialogue from the rest of the cast in the first half, and Burton was rather too shouty for me in some scenes, but overall, the differences between the two great actors from different eras was explored well. I did feel that their difficult relationship in the first half was too quickly resolved in the second half, but overall, a masterful play exploring an interesting subject, with great set design.

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 2 ай бұрын

You make some good points. Thanks for the comment.

@markharris1125 4 ай бұрын

I saw it at the Lyttleton. I was in the front row and sometimes it really did feel that Richard Burton was just in front of me. Mark should have won an award. I shall try to make up for it now by watching his Christmas ghost story on the BBC.

@NectarineSoup 3 ай бұрын

Definitely the finest play I've ever seen.

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 3 ай бұрын

The more I think about it, the better it seems.

@finlaycooper5209 5 ай бұрын

definitely one i need to see, looks absolutely phenomenal!

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 5 ай бұрын

Unmissable

@christopherbutler1980 5 ай бұрын

I would love for this to come to N.Y. Do you think this would be a success there?

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 5 ай бұрын

I think New Yorkers would love it

@denisewilkin4399 2 ай бұрын

I absolutely concur with everything you said!

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven 2 ай бұрын

Thank you.

@johnnyhmash Ай бұрын

A bit difficult to get around to seeing this sort of thing in the sticks .I only heard about it in the paper when it had finished.Even my local cinema played it and pouf!! it was gone before I took it in.Someone said I could view it via the NT website.

@TheatreReviewsWithPaulSeven Ай бұрын

There are screenings in cinemas for the next couple of months. Maybe there’s one near you. This is the link themotiveandthecue.ntlive.com/ Also, it’s only a matter of time before it pops up on NTAtHome.