Love them or dislike them, the British Royal family is a fascinating institution, steeped in history, tradition and tabloid intrigue. In fact the current family are just as popular as the brightest Hollywood movie stars and in recent times have even been the subject of various movies and even theatrical productions.
But while Helen Mirren, wowed audiences with her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience, another play has been taking the theatre world into a completely different territory, or one could say realm!
King Charles III is as the title suggests. Written by award-winning British playwright Mike Bartlett, this piece, which takes much poetic license, centers on Prince Charles’ accent to the throne in the wake of his mother’s death.
In a story that could be either really good, or really bad, this is one that critics have been raving about. Not only did it win the 2015 Oliver award for Best New Play, The New York Times labeled it an “intellectually and emotionally gripping study”.
The interesting thing about King Charles III is that it doesn’t just delve into the royal family’s reactions to the Queen’s death, but rather the controversy that follows with a constitutional crisis. As it happens, King Charles first meeting with the Prime Minister ends badly over a new bill intending to restrict freedom of the press. Surprisingly, the new monarch does not agree with the intended bill and a masterful plotline is set.
As one would expect, other members of the family make appearances, including Camilla, William, Kate and Harry. The character of Kate comes out as somewhat the Machiavellian, while Harry causes his own controversy in dating a young Republican art student Jess Edwards. But perhaps the most poignant moment comes in the form of a ghostly apparition in the form of Princess Diana.
While it would be easy to write such off as bad taste, this is one production that is anything but. It is clever, thought provoking, educational and stimulating, and all with artistic merit.
The show first premiered in London in April 2014 before moving to the West End and a UK tour. Its success continued taking the original London cast to Broadway, while those with the UK tour are now headed to Sydney.
While it’s unfortunate that Sydney won’t experience Tim Pigott-Smith who gave an outstanding performance as Charles in the original production, the touring cast is equally as great. Playing Charles is Robert Powell while Penelope Beaumont is Camilla. Ben Righton is William, Jennifer Bryden as Kate and Richard Glaves is a very handsome Harry. Lucy Phelps plays Harry’s love interest Jess while Tim Treloar is the British Prime Minister Tristram Evans.
While it is unusual to see an entire British cast at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, this is certainly a special event not to be missed. Original director Rupert Goold also joins the production bringing a unique and witty vision that has already won him awards.
One of the skillful attributes of King Charles III is the reference to Shakespeare – the greatest playwright of all, who found great substance in the politics of royal families. Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet and Richard II are all brought to the forefront in this new setting of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and even London’s famous Bouji’s nightclub.
The talents of Goold and the UK cast bring more than a regal light to King Charles III. It goes far beyond the pomp, ceremony and scandalous fascination bestowed upon the House of Windsor. It is more the underlying human condition and our modern society that falls under the spotlight.
It is somewhat ironic, even poetic, that the story of King Charles III can be just as relevant today as any medieval, biblical or Shakespearean tragedy.
The Queen is dead, long live the king!
King Charles III is playing at Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre
For more visit sydneytheatre.com.au
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