A new stage production, "Game of Thrones: The Mad King," has opened at the Royal Shakespeare Company's home, drawing a range of opinions from theatre critics.
The play, which delves into the reign of the volatile King Aerys II Targaryen, is described as a "spectacular" spin-off that serves both newcomers and devoted fans of the "Game of Thrones" franchise. However, its nearly four-hour runtime and dense plot have led to some reservations.
Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph noted that the production "capably serves newbies and devotees, and speaks in a timely fashion to our age of unruly leaders." He suggested that while it may not yet rival the success of prequels for franchises like "Harry Potter" or "Stranger Things," it represents another "worthwhile and lucrative spin-off" for "Game of Thrones." Cavendish also observed that the play lacks the "grit and gore (not to mention the nudity)" of the television series.
Conversely, Clive Davis of The Times expressed greater reservations. He commented that while the play offers "hardcore GoT fans a chance to go hunting for 'Easter eggs,' it seldom comes close to matching the grim aura of the TV series." Davis criticized Duncan Macmillan's script for lacking "poetry" and described the events as plodding forward. While acknowledging Michael Shaeffer's "compelling presence" as the "cruel and chronically unstable monarch Aerys," Davis found other performances to be "nuance-free," with "too many lines [being] simply shouted."
"You expect better of the RSC," Davis wrote, concluding that "only the most dedicated" fans would have the energy for the "marathon" of the play, though he conceded that "there are more than enough GoT devotees to keep the box office ticking over for the rest of eternity."