The Madness of King George III

This production has had a lot of hype surrounding it, so I was especially looking forward to watching it. I know quite a bit about King George the 3^rd and the illness surrounding him, so this production really interested me.

The play started off wonderfully: David Haig captured every essence I had imagined of the King before his severe mental breakdown. Not only did Haig fulfil my expectations, but he was captivating to watch, and a likeable portrayal of the King. The scenes between him and his wife, Beatie Edney, who plays Queen Charlotte, the plump and artistic daughter of the Duke, were unbelievably comic. The Lady Pembroke, played by Charlotte Asprey, also deserves a mention due to her likeable, reserved character that caught the attention of the King during his severe mental breakdowns.

Although the start of the play was hilarious and understandable, the ‘madness’ set into the performance very quickly, much quicker than anticipated. Sadness was the effect of the illness on the audience, a desperate loss of a) a great character but b) of the understanding of the character. Haig was incredible, but it would have been satisfying to see more of the original King.

This play, although aimed at an older audience, would have been suitable for any age. Though there were minor details which could have been polished, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the audience truly connected with the Mad King and his family. Another brilliant production for the Yvonne Arnaud.