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The Moment of Truth (play)

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The Moment of Truth
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 premieredSouthwark Playhouse
Original languageEnglish
SubjectThe mechanics of toppling governments, the pretenses of war and the power of propaganda.
GenreSatire
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 drama 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.[2]

Ustinov wrote the play inspired by French hero 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 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 in 26 June 2013 closed on 20 July 2013 after 26 performances.[7][8][9]

Plot summary

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. [10][11]

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.[10][11]

Characters

The Marshal
An older, retired military hero who is mostly senile and due to his mental condition often provide comic effects.
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 General
He Overthrow the puppet dictatorship and reclaims 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 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 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 Foreign Minister
He along with Prime Minister formed the plan to use Marshal so they can keep the power to themselves.

Revival

In June 2013, the play was revived by by The New Actors Company and performed at the Southwark Playhouse in Newington Causeway, London.[12][13][14]

Cast of 2013 Revival

  • 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 - Noel Hood
  • Daniel Souter - The Photographer

Television adaptation

The play was adapted as a episode in the Sunday Night Theatre by BBC and aired on 6 March, 1955.[15][16] 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

  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". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ^ "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". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  11. ^ a b "The Moment of Truth at Southwark Playhouse". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  12. ^ "'The Moment of Truth' in Review". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Review: 'The Moment of Truth' starring Bonnie Wright". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  14. ^ "'The Moment of Truth". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  15. ^ "donald pleasence (1919-1995)". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  16. ^ "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Season 6, Episode 10 The Moment of Truth (6 Mar. 1955)". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
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