Yvonne Arnaud – until Saturday 11 May 2024
Reviewed by Heather Chalkley
5*****
This exciting new play is written by an insider of the machinations of political office. Writer Michael McManus was a political aide for Edward Heath, working alongside politicians like Margaret Thatcher, so knows a thing or two about how it works. Do not despair, this is a farce and McManus has humour running through from beginning to end! Based in the near future, you can almost see it happening for real!
Matthew Cottle (John) skilfully plays the newly elected prime minister and leader of new political party One Nation. One Nation is made up of defected MP’s from mainly the Conservative and Labour parties, decimating these main parties in the election. He resonates with bumbling Boris Johnson, only with an undercurrent sharp edge of knowing and a good moral foundation. He hilariously talks a jumble of Latin, Greek and gibberish until he is on the political platform talking to the masses. The fast pace of the piece takes you on a journey punctuated by John’s (Cottle) ineptitude in office and inability to make a decision. This gives an open field for the rest of the cast to express their own political views, often interrupted by A1 virtual assistant Medianne (Debra Stepheson). The poor beleaguered civil servants, Luke (Jason Callender) and Candice (Krissi Bohn) have their tolerance stretched to the limits by advisor and sociopath extremist Seth (Ryan Early). Early’s body language creates a caricature out of Seth that has the audience laughing out loud. Callender (Luke) gives a passionate performance and a great contrast to the cool calm Bohn (Candice), who remains the consummate professional. Debra Stephenson plays the lefty Lisa, with familiar reflections of current women in Labour politics. Her ability to deliver a funny line is not lost in the fast paced dialogue. The cynical Anne (Natalie Dunne) who protects and supports her husband, the prime minister, is a great counterbalance to the more extreme characters. To cap it all off you have the Chief Whip (William Oxborrow) and his pet tarantula, who encapsulates all the imagined traits of a back bench politician, portrayed in any other political farce. The audience is laughing before he even opens his mouth!
There is no doubt politics is a serious business, which is why it is so ripe for humour. McManus gives us a revealing insider’s view of government office that will have you belly laughing throughout. However, there is a serious note that gives you the opportunity to see how easy it could be to let extremism into the mix.