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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{infobox play
{{infobox play
| name = The Moment of Truth
| name = The Moment of Truth
| image =
| image = The Moment of Truth play poster.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption = The Moment of Truth London 2013 Poster
| writer = [[Peter Ustinov]]
| writer = [[Peter Ustinov]]
| characters =
| characters =
Line 18: Line 19:
| setting = The era of [[World War II]], inside the cabinet office and latter a desolate prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth- Theatre Drama|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-moment-of-truth|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>
| setting = The era of [[World War II]], inside the cabinet office and latter a desolate prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth- Theatre Drama|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-moment-of-truth|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>
| premiere = 1951
| premiere = 1951
| place = [[Southwark Playhouse]]
| place = [[Adelphi Theatre]]
| orig_lang = English
| orig_lang = English
| subject = The mechanics of toppling governments, the pretenses of war and the power of propaganda.
| subject = The mechanics of toppling governments, the pretenses of war and the power of propaganda.
| genre = [[Satire]]
| genre = [[Satire]], [[drama]], [[comedy]]
| web = http://www.themomentoftruth.co.uk/
| web = http://www.themomentoftruth.co.uk/
| ibdb_id =
}}
}}


'''''The Moment of Truth''''' is a [[satire]] [[drama]] [[Play (theatre)|play]] by [[Peter Ustinov]] written in 1951, telling the story of a [[republic]] which is about to fall, while facing the threat of invading army with crippling government structure.<ref>{{cite web|title=The New Actors Company presents: The Moment Of Truth by Peter Ustinov|url=http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/archives/the-moment-of-truth/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>
'''''The Moment of Truth''''' is a [[satire]] [[comedy]] [[drama]] [[Play (theatre)|play]] by [[Peter Ustinov]] written in 1951, telling the story of a [[Republic]] on the brink of defeat, while facing the threat of a political crisis with a crippled government structure.<ref>{{cite web|title=The New Actors Company presents: The Moment Of Truth by Peter Ustinov|url=http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/archives/the-moment-of-truth/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>


Ustinov wrote the play inspired by French hero [[Philippe Pétain|Marshal Petain]] and his political collusion with the Nazi's and the events resulting in creation of [[Vichy France]]. The play was first premiered at the [[Adelphi, London|Adelphi]] in 1951.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth:Peter Ustinov The New Actors Company Southwark Playhouse From 26 June 2013 to 20 July 2013 Review by Howard Loxton|url=http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/moment-of-truth-southwark-playh-8979|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/the-moment-of-truth/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> The play was revived in 2013 at the [[Southwark Playhouse]] in [[Newington Causeway]], [[London]] by ''The New Actors Company''.<ref>{{cite web|title=SHOW INFORMATION|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/shows/the-moment-of-truth_5123/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Marker - Set Designer|url=http://www.alexmarker.com/post/52867235855/current-show-the-moment-of-truth-by-peter|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> The production was directed by ''Rob Laycock'', and opened in 26 June 2013 closed on 20 July 2013 after 26 performances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southwark Playhouse announces three more shows|url=http://londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/ap13/southwarkplayhouse1317.htm|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=‘THE MOMENT OF TRUTH’ by Peter Ustinov|url=http://www.whats-on-london.co.uk/event/the-moment-of-truth-by-peter-ustinov/#sthash.b2fvs8CU.dpbs|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=‘THE MOMENT OF TRUTH' BY PETER USTINOV|url=http://www.russkylondon.com/post/82|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>
Ustinov wrote the play inspired by French President [[Philippe Pétain|Marshal Petain]], his political relationship with Nazi Germany and the events surrounding the creation of [[Vichy France]]. The play was first premiered at the [[Adelphi Theatre]], [[Adelphi, London|Adelphi]] in 1951.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth:Peter Ustinov The New Actors Company Southwark Playhouse From 26 June 2013 to 20 July 2013 Review by Howard Loxton|date=26 June 2013 |url=http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/moment-of-truth-southwark-playh-8979|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="a" /> The play was revived in 2013 at the [[Southwark Playhouse]] in [[Newington Causeway]], [[London]] by ''The New Actors Company''.<ref>{{cite web|title=SHOW INFORMATION|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/shows/the-moment-of-truth_5123/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Marker - Set Designer|url=http://www.alexmarker.com/post/52867235855/current-show-the-moment-of-truth-by-peter|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> The production was directed by ''Rob Laycock'', and opened on 26 June 2013 and closed on 20 July 2013 after 26 performances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southwark Playhouse announces three more shows|url=http://londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/ap13/southwarkplayhouse1317.htm|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='THE MOMENT OF TRUTH' by Peter Ustinov|url=http://www.whats-on-london.co.uk/event/the-moment-of-truth-by-peter-ustinov/#sthash.b2fvs8CU.dpbs|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='THE MOMENT OF TRUTH' BY PETER USTINOV|url=http://www.russkylondon.com/post/82|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>


== Plot summary ==
== Plot summary ==
'''Act One'''
'''Act One'''


The play opens with an anonymous Prime Minister, his Foreign Minister and General inside the cabinet office, their country is on the verge of war and they are waiting for their enemy's armies invasion. When The Victor arrived their, instead of surrendering they formed a scheme and offer him a deal which will give power to both of them. They uses retired Marshal, who was once a military hero now an old and senile man and made him the dictator of the country behind which they hide and uses him as a puppet. <ref name="b">{{cite web|title=Theatre review: The Moment of Truth|url=http://partially-obstructed-view.blogspot.com/2013/07/theatre-review-moment-of-truth.html|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="a">{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/the-moment-of-truth/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>
The play opens with the anonymous Prime Minister, his Foreign Minister and General inside the cabinet office, their country on the verge of defeat as they wait for the Victor to arrive to accept their surrender. When the Victor arrives, instead of surrendering to him, they negotiate a deal to form a puppet government, where both the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister remain in power. To give legitimacy to this new government, the Prime Minister and his co-conspirators use a highly revered military hero, the retired Marshal, as the dictator of the country behind which they hide and use him [[Power behind the throne|as a puppet]].<ref name="a">{{cite web|title=The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/the-moment-of-truth/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="b">{{cite web|title=Theatre review: The Moment of Truth|date=3 July 2013 |url=http://partially-obstructed-view.blogspot.com/2013/07/theatre-review-moment-of-truth.html|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>


'''Act Two'''
'''Act Two'''


Four years later, General overthrow the puppet government and Marshal who is now much older, is sent to a remote prison after sudden change in leadership of the country. His daughter (The Girl), Nurse and a Photographer who captures the daily life of Marshal stand by him.<ref name="b"/><ref name="a" />
Four years later, the General overthrows the Marshal and his puppet government, eventually liberating the Republic from foreign rule. Following a brief trial, the Marshal is sent to a remote prison. His daughter (The Girl), a Nurse and a Photographer stand by him.<ref name="a" /><ref name="b"/>


==Characters==
==Characters==
; The Marshal: An older, retired military hero who is mostly senile and due to his mental condition often provide comic effects.
; The Marshal: An older, retired military hero who is mostly senile due to his mental condition. He often provides the comic relief in the story.
; The Prime Minister: Also an older man, who has memory problems due to his advance age. He uses the Marshal to keep the power to himself.
; The Prime Minister: Also an older man, who has memory problems due to his advanced age. He uses the Marshal to keep himself in power.
; The General: He Overthrow the puppet dictatorship and reclaims the country.
; The General: The head of the Republic's armed forces, he later overthrows the puppet dictatorship and liberates the country.
; The Girl: Daughter of Marshal and all the character in the play are nameless except her, who has 13 different names including Beatrice and Cordelia.
; The Girl: Daughter of the Marshal. Unlike all the other characters, she is only one who is named. She has 13 different names including Beatrice and Cordelia.
; The Victor: He is the leader of hostile population of the country and later he become part of Prime Minister's plan of puppet government.
; The Victor: The leader of the enemy country hostile to the Republic. He later agrees to the Prime Minister's plan for a puppet government.
; The Photographer: He captures the daily life moments of Marshal, which can be later used by the press whatever way they want.
; The Photographer: He captures the daily life moments of Marshal, which can be later used by the press whatever way they want.
; The Nurse: She take care of Marshal and stand by him during his imprisonment.
; The Nurse: She takes care of Marshal. She stands by him even during his imprisonment.
; The Foreign Minister: He along with Prime Minister formed the plan to use Marshal so they can keep the power to themselves.
; The Foreign Minister: The co-conspirator of the Prime Minister who helped form the plan to use the Marshal as their puppet dictator.


==Revival==
==Revival==
In June 2013, the play was revived by by ''The New Actors Company'' and performed at the [[Southwark Playhouse]] in [[Newington Causeway]], [[London]].<ref>{{cite web|title=‘The Moment of Truth’ in Review|url=http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2013/07/23/the-moment-of-truth-in-review/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Review: 'The Moment of Truth' starring Bonnie Wright|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/show/6934|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=‘The Moment of Truth|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-moment-of-truth|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>
In June 2013, the play was revived by ''The New Actors Company'' and performed at the [[Southwark Playhouse]] in [[Newington Causeway]], [[London]].<ref>{{cite web|title='The Moment of Truth' in Review|url=http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2013/07/23/the-moment-of-truth-in-review/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Review: 'The Moment of Truth' starring Bonnie Wright|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/show/6934|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='The Moment of Truth|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-moment-of-truth|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref>


===Cast of 2013 Revival===
===Cast of 2013 Revival===
* [[Rodney Bewes]] - The Marshal
* [[Rodney Bewes]] - The Marshal
* [[Miles Richardson]] - The Prime Minister
* [[Miles Richardson]] - The Prime Minister
Line 59: Line 59:
* Damian Quinn - The Victor
* Damian Quinn - The Victor
* Mark Carey - The Foreign Minister
* Mark Carey - The Foreign Minister
* Toni Kanal - Noel Hood
* Toni Kanal - The Nurse
* Daniel Souter - The Photographer
* Daniel Souter - The Photographer


==Television adaptation==
==Film adaptation==
The play was adapted as a episode in the [[Sunday Night Theatre]] by [[BBC]] and aired on 6 March, 1955.<ref>{{cite web|title=donald pleasence (1919-1995)|url=http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/donaldpleasence.html|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Season 6, Episode 10 The Moment of Truth (6 Mar. 1955)|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0336864/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> [[Peter Ustinov]] himself played the role of The Marshal while rest of the characters were played by [[Peter Cushing]] as The Prime Minister, [[Jeanette Sterke]] as The Girl, [[Walter Rilla]] as The Victor, [[Donald Pleasence]] as The Foreign Minister, [[Hugh Griffith]] as The Photographer, [[Ian Colin]] as The General and ''Noel Hood'' as The Nurse.
The play was adapted as a [[Television film|TV film]] for the [[Sunday Night Theatre]], a long-running series of televised plays created by [[BBC]] and aired on 6 March 1955.<ref>{{cite web|title=donald pleasence (1919-1995)|url=http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/donaldpleasence.html|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Season 6, Episode 10 The Moment of Truth (6 Mar. 1955)|website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0336864/|accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> [[Peter Ustinov]] himself played the role of The Marshal while rest of the characters were played by [[Peter Cushing]] as The Prime Minister, [[Jeanette Sterke]] as The Girl, [[Walter Rilla]] as The Victor, [[Donald Pleasence]] as The Foreign Minister, [[Hugh Griffith]] as The Photographer, [[Ian Colin]] as The General and [[Noel Hood]] as The Nurse.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 69: Line 69:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.themomentoftruth.co.uk/ ''The Moment Of Truth'' official website]
* {{Official website|http://www.themomentoftruth.co.uk/|''The Moment Of Truth'' official website}}
* {{IMDb title|0336864|The Moment of Truth|(TV Episode)}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q128926535|title=The Moment of Truth|description=(TV Film)}}
* [http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-moment-of-truth-southwark-playhouse--theatre-review-8680999.html The Moment Of Truth-London Evening Standard Review]
* [https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/the-moment-of-truth-southwark-playhouse--theatre-review-8680999.html The Moment Of Truth-London Evening Standard Review]
* [http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38706/the-moment-of-truth The Moment Of Truth-The Stage Review]
* [http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38706/the-moment-of-truth The Moment Of Truth-The Stage Review]
* [http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/moment-of-truth-southwark-playh-8979 The Moment Of Truth-British Theatre Guide]
* [http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/moment-of-truth-southwark-playh-8979 The Moment Of Truth-British Theatre Guide]
Line 77: Line 77:
* [http://www.maturetimes.co.uk/leisure-and-lifestyle/entertainment/theatre/6358-robert-tanitch-reviews-the-moment-of-truth-at-southwark-playhouse,-london-se1.html Robert Tanitch reviews The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse, London SE1]
* [http://www.maturetimes.co.uk/leisure-and-lifestyle/entertainment/theatre/6358-robert-tanitch-reviews-the-moment-of-truth-at-southwark-playhouse,-london-se1.html Robert Tanitch reviews The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse, London SE1]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Moment of Truth, The}}
[[Category:1951 plays]]
[[Category:1951 plays]]
[[Category:Broadway plays]]
[[Category:West End plays]]
[[Category:English-language plays]]
[[Category:Cold War fiction]]
[[Category:Comedy plays]]
[[Category:Plays by Peter Ustinov]]
[[Category:British plays adapted into films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Philippe Pétain]]
[[Category:Plays about World War II]]

Latest revision as of 15:24, 20 October 2024

The Moment of Truth
The Moment of Truth London 2013 Poster
Written byPeter Ustinov
Characters
  • The Girl
  • The General
  • The Victor
  • The Foreign Minister
  • The Prime Minister
  • The Marshal
  • The Nurse
  • The Photographer
Date premiered1951
Place premieredAdelphi Theatre
Original languageEnglish
SubjectThe mechanics of toppling governments, the pretenses of war and the power of propaganda.
GenreSatire, drama, comedy
SettingThe era of World War II, inside the cabinet office and latter a desolate prison.[1]
Official site

The Moment of Truth is a satire comedy drama play by Peter Ustinov written in 1951, telling the story of a Republic on the brink of defeat, while facing the threat of a political crisis with a crippled government structure.[2]

Ustinov wrote the play inspired by French President Marshal Petain, his political relationship with Nazi Germany and the events surrounding the creation of Vichy France. The play was first premiered at the Adelphi Theatre, Adelphi in 1951.[3][4] The play was revived in 2013 at the Southwark Playhouse in Newington Causeway, London by The New Actors Company.[5][6] The production was directed by Rob Laycock, and opened on 26 June 2013 and closed on 20 July 2013 after 26 performances.[7][8][9]

Plot summary

[edit]

Act One

The play opens with the anonymous Prime Minister, his Foreign Minister and General inside the cabinet office, their country on the verge of defeat as they wait for the Victor to arrive to accept their surrender. When the Victor arrives, instead of surrendering to him, they negotiate a deal to form a puppet government, where both the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister remain in power. To give legitimacy to this new government, the Prime Minister and his co-conspirators use a highly revered military hero, the retired Marshal, as the dictator of the country behind which they hide and use him as a puppet.[4][10]

Act Two

Four years later, the General overthrows the Marshal and his puppet government, eventually liberating the Republic from foreign rule. Following a brief trial, the Marshal is sent to a remote prison. His daughter (The Girl), a Nurse and a Photographer stand by him.[4][10]

Characters

[edit]
The Marshal
An older, retired military hero who is mostly senile due to his mental condition. He often provides the comic relief in the story.
The Prime Minister
Also an older man, who has memory problems due to his advanced age. He uses the Marshal to keep himself in power.
The General
The head of the Republic's armed forces, he later overthrows the puppet dictatorship and liberates the country.
The Girl
Daughter of the Marshal. Unlike all the other characters, she is only one who is named. She has 13 different names including Beatrice and Cordelia.
The Victor
The leader of the enemy country hostile to the Republic. He later agrees to the Prime Minister's plan for a puppet government.
The Photographer
He captures the daily life moments of Marshal, which can be later used by the press whatever way they want.
The Nurse
She takes care of Marshal. She stands by him even during his imprisonment.
The Foreign Minister
The co-conspirator of the Prime Minister who helped form the plan to use the Marshal as their puppet dictator.

Revival

[edit]

In June 2013, the play was revived by The New Actors Company and performed at the Southwark Playhouse in Newington Causeway, London.[11][12][13]

Cast of 2013 Revival

[edit]
  • Rodney Bewes - The Marshal
  • Miles Richardson - The Prime Minister
  • Bonnie Wright - The Girl
  • Callum Coates - The General
  • Damian Quinn - The Victor
  • Mark Carey - The Foreign Minister
  • Toni Kanal - The Nurse
  • Daniel Souter - The Photographer

Film adaptation

[edit]

The play was adapted as a TV film for the Sunday Night Theatre, a long-running series of televised plays created by BBC and aired on 6 March 1955.[14][15] Peter Ustinov himself played the role of The Marshal while rest of the characters were played by Peter Cushing as The Prime Minister, Jeanette Sterke as The Girl, Walter Rilla as The Victor, Donald Pleasence as The Foreign Minister, Hugh Griffith as The Photographer, Ian Colin as The General and Noel Hood as The Nurse.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Moment of Truth- Theatre Drama". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  2. ^ "The New Actors Company presents: The Moment Of Truth by Peter Ustinov". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  3. ^ "The Moment of Truth:Peter Ustinov The New Actors Company Southwark Playhouse From 26 June 2013 to 20 July 2013 Review by Howard Loxton". 26 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. ^ "SHOW INFORMATION". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Alex Marker - Set Designer". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Southwark Playhouse announces three more shows". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  8. ^ "'THE MOMENT OF TRUTH' by Peter Ustinov". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  9. ^ "'THE MOMENT OF TRUTH' BY PETER USTINOV". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Theatre review: The Moment of Truth". 3 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  11. ^ "'The Moment of Truth' in Review". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Review: 'The Moment of Truth' starring Bonnie Wright". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  13. ^ "'The Moment of Truth". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  14. ^ "donald pleasence (1919-1995)". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  15. ^ "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Season 6, Episode 10 The Moment of Truth (6 Mar. 1955)". IMDb. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
[edit]
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