Curve Theatre Leicester – until 29th March 2025
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
5*****
Handbagged gives us a fictional glimpse into the conversations which occurred between two of Britain’s female leaders, against the backdrop of some very real historic events. We are privy to The Queen and Margaret Thatcher’s weekly meetings, their ‘audience, which would occur after Thatcher took up office at Downing Street from 1979-90. Witnessing accounts from both a younger and older version of the two women, we hear their thoughts and feelings about the events and about each other in stereo. The older and younger versions of the ladies appear on stage at the same time, handbags clasped, hair perfectly coiffured and ready to lead us through their tale of Tory leadership and the tribulations that came with it. Moira Buffini’s witty and fast paced dialogue between the ladies plays off as plausible. The rest of the play is punctuated by a further 17 characters who are played by two male actors transforming before our very eyes into a wide range of public and political figures, including Ronald Reagan, Dennis Thatcher, Rupert Murdoch, Neil Kinnock, Miners, Protesters and not forgetting Nancy Reagan
Director Alex Thorpe and movement director Jonnie Riordan ensures this is a dynamic and visually engaging production as each character comes to life and truly embodies every scene. There are moments of mirth and then moments of utter sadness when we are drawn into memories of darkness when the country was at its knees. We are then moved swiftly on to the next period of history and not left to linger, which is part of the beauty of this well-crafted production.
The cast of Handbagged are sensational. Sarah Moyle portrays the older queen to perfection. Along with her younger counterpart, Helen Reuben, they both play her with real warmth and affection. Morag Cross and Emma Ernest portray the older and younger Margaret Thatcher to a t. Poise, precision and not a wrinkle in the royal blue, her ice cool demeaner holds fast until the very end. Dennis Herdman and Cassius Konneh exude lots of energy and garner a great deal of laughter with their quick changes of character. Switching from a butler to foreign secretary, to the president, to the leader of the opposition, each with their own nuance, prop/outfit and accent, they both manage to pull it all off with skilful ease.
Handbagged is chock full of satire, quickfire physical and verbal humour and some outstanding performances. Whatever you may feel about these two women and the impact they had on Britain and its political landscape, this production brings us an interesting and entertaining story of what may have occurred in the ‘room where it happened’.