And so once again I find myself engaging in a work about madness. One month has not even passed since Riven Rock, and now I deal with another elite, the King of UK and Ireland no less, George III (played by Mark Gatiss) who is famous in history for his madness, for losing the American colonies., and for the longest reigning male British monarch. And his wife Queen Charlotte is one mighty woman who bore him 15 children! Now that is almost enough to build a small orchestra! His doctors back then diagnose him with porphyria because of his blue urine, but there seems to be a growing consensus that his madness is a result of the repression of his spontaneous nature while he was being groomed to be king. (Read about the misdiagnosis HERE.)
As pointed by Nottingham Playhouse Artistic Director Adam Penford, "Monarchy by its very nature is theatrical. The royals are giving a performance, it's all the trappings of a theatre, music, costumes, props, staging." (I really took the effort to learn more about the play because I enjoyed it immensely, even more than I had Frankenstein.)
Like in Riven Rock, the king is attended to by many doctors, each with his own specialization, but on modern standards, may be deemed as quacks for the kind of medication they offer which give more of a torturous than a healing effect. At this moment I feel pity for the king whom the world (during his time, the British empire still stands although suffering many blows) looks up to but we the audience become privy to his tormented state as portrayed in this masterpiece by the very talented Alan Bennett. (Ironically, despite his sufferings, history says that he is pro-slavery although his Prime Minister is against it.) As his madness continues, power struggles rise in the government, with the king's son, the Prince of Wales, coming back ready to act as regent. He is backed by those who see opportunity in the situation, on pretext of concern for real and effective government. This poses a threat to Prime Minister Pitt who fears being replaced.
As Prime Minister Pitt laments all the efforts he has done to eliminate waste and save money for the government, news of the king's return to health reaches him. The king is shown together with his queen his usual self. He questions about state affairs and even affairs of other European states, but mostly France. Shortly after he approaches Elizabeth and asks if something has happened between them while he was sick in mind and she answers in the negative to which the king feels a bit of regret. He then shares the bed with his queen and the two are cute in that they again call each other Mr. King and Mrs. King.
The King's pages are sacked, even though they are devoted to him in time of his sickness. Fitzroy enters and is addressed as Captain but he answers "Colonel Fitzroy. You didn't know that? It seems unfair, I agree. But a word of advice, to be kind does not commend you to kings. They see it, as they see any flow of feeling, as a liberty. A blind eye will serve you better. And you will travel further." (Handel's The King Shall Rejoice plays and as final line, George III declares, "The King is himself again.")
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Memorably witty lines:
King George III in his bed clothes: What is this? The King unattended. Up with you, Papendiek.
Fitzroy: What's the matter, sir?
King George: The matter, sir, is that it is morning. That is the matter. Morning is the matter. Not being attended to is the matter. And don't mutter. Or mutter will be the matter.
Court man: Will Your Majesty not sit down?
King George III: The King never sits when seeing his ministers. Sits, no. Shits, though, yes.
Court man: In your present frame of mind...
King George III: What do you know of my mind? Or its frame? (Grabs a framed mirror) Something is shaking the frame, shaking my mind out of its frame. (chuckles) I am not going out of my mind. My mind is going out of me.
When George III is being bound for medication: I was the verb, the noun and the verb. Verb rules, subject the King. I am not the subject now. Now I am the object, the King governed, the ruler ruled. I am the subordinate clause, the insubordinate George.
George III restrained: I am the King of England!
Court man: No, sir. You are the patient. (Handel's Zadok the Priest plays)
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