Noel Coward Theatre – until 23rd March 2024
Reviewed by Fiona Leyman
5*****
“To be, or not to be, that is the question”
It’s 1964 and after winning a coin toss with Peter O’Toole, Richard Burton (Johnny Flynn) has begun rehearsing under the direction of Sir John Gielgud (Mark Gatiss) for a new production of Hamlet. Wanting to make this adaptation different to his own portrayal, Sir John creates a ‘Rehearsal Style’ version due to Richard Burton’s refusing to wear period costumes. But the real question is, can this artistic duo see past their creative differences so this production can make it on the Broadway stage? What would transpire would be one of the most “volatile clashes in theatre history”.
After a sold-out season at the National Theatre and dubbed “A Love Letter to Theatre”, The Motive and the Cue has been transferred to the West End for a limited time. Jack Thorne’s new play is based letters exchanged between William Redfield (Luke Norris) and Sir John Gielgud. Burton and Gielgud’s personalities could not be more different. Burton, known for his wild and audacious attitude, and Gielgud’s professional calm persona, would see these two creative genius’s clash and risk this new production not progressing past the rehearsal room.
Tony Award winning Set Designer Es Devlin returns to the West End after her success with The Lehman Trilogy, to create an outstanding space inside the Noel Coward Theatre. The design is simple, yet magnificent with her use of one colour rooms. The clinically white Rehearsal Room and the opulent red hotel suite of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor provides a visual contrast of two personalities of these characters. Although minimalistic in its use of colour, Es Devlin and Costume Designer Katrina Lindsay (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) manage to combine their abilities to enhance the grandeur of this play. The simple use of colour, whether it be Burton’s red socks to match his fiery personality, or Gielgud’s neutral tones to reflect his calm personality, added to the effect of this play.
Under the direction of Academy Award Winning Sam Mendes (Skyfall, The Lehman Trilogy) it is clear that he is a master of his craft. The simply use of freeze framing the actors creates a dramatic effect at the end of each scene.
Stand out star of the night was the amazing Mark Gatiss (A Christmas Carol, Sherlock). A seasoned actor both on stage and on screen, his ability to command a stage is commendable. Gatiss masterfully portrayed Gielgud’s vulnerability as he struggles with this dip in his career. He is a pleasure to watch and I would encourage anyone to see this master on stage. Another notable star of this play is Tuppence Middleton who is faultless as Elizabeth Taylor. Her class and style oozed with every word spoken and actioned performed.
Although prior knowledge of this subject would be beneficial to fully appreciate this fascinating insight into this volatile relationship, it does not detract from the fact that The Motive and the Cue is an expertly exquisite piece of theatre.