‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff ‘The Mad King’ Gets Standing Ovation After Major Cancellations
The long-awaited Game of Thrones stage play The Mad King has finally reached the stage, and its first preview ended much better than its troubled start suggested.
The new production, officially titled George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones: The Mad King, held its first preview Tuesday night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon. After a four-hour performance, the audience gave the cast and creative team a standing ovation.
The reaction was especially notable because the play had a rough road to its first performance. The HBO and Royal Shakespeare Company production was originally supposed to begin previews on July 20. However, the first four performances were canceled because the team needed more time to work on the production.
The Royal Shakespeare Company said the extra time was needed to “progress and refine the work in real time.” The cancellations left some fans frustrated, with several ticket holders saying online that they had traveled long distances to see the show.
Even the first preview came with a warning from director Dominic Cooke. Before the performance began, Cooke told the audience that this was a world premiere and that technical problems could potentially force the show to stop. He explained that the stage manager might need to come out if something went wrong.
According to the Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald, Cooke also admitted that the team had not managed to complete a full run of the show on stage during rehearsals. That meant he would essentially be watching the complete production for the first time alongside the audience.
Despite those concerns, everything went smoothly. The four-hour performance continued without an unexpected pause, giving the production the strong first showing it needed after the earlier cancellations.
The early audience response has also been very positive. A representative for the Royal Shakespeare Company said the team had received “incredible” feedback online and through email, with viewers praising everything from the performances and lighting to the sound design and puppetry.
One audience member was particularly impressed by the production design, saying, “I loved the set especially the throne. So realistic I felt like I was actually there!” The same viewer also praised the dragon, horses and fight scenes, calling the overall experience a masterpiece.
Another fan highlighted the puppetry, saying the performances were excellent and describing the puppetry as “easily the most impressive i have ever seen on stage.”
The play takes place before the events of HBO’s Game of Thrones series and explores the world surrounding the Targaryens during the reign of the so-called Mad King. That makes it an important addition to the larger Game of Thrones story, while also giving fans a chance to experience Westeros in a completely different format.
The production is scheduled to officially open on August 8. The Royal Shakespeare Company has also added several performances following the earlier cancellations, although reports indicate that tickets are already limited for much of the show’s two-month run.
Would you watch the new Game of Thrones play, The Mad King?
After such a shaky beginning, The Mad King appears to have finally found its footing. The first preview not only went ahead without major problems but also earned the kind of enthusiastic response that could give the production a strong boost heading into its official opening.
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