FEELGOOD till 22 May

Nottingham

FEELGOOD: Alistair Beaton: Nottingham Playhouse
Tkts: 0115 9419419. www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Runs: 2h 30m: one interval: till 22nd May: 7.45pm, matinees Sat 15th 14.30, Thurs 20th 13.30
Review: Jen Mitchell: 4th May 2004

From farce to deeply black humour: a healthy dose of scepticismTo describe this play as a political satire hardly does justice to the complexity of the evening, ranging from farce to deeply black humour. No administration is, or should be, safe from Alistair Beaton's ability to see through the spin and reveal the demonisation of modern democracy.

The high tension and excitement of the last evening of the party conference is the setting for the spin, double dealing and drama of this behind-the-scenes look at the dirty side of political life. In a hotel room in an undisclosed coastal location, the PM's keynote speech is being written. The idealistic yet jaded speech writer works alongside the press secretary Eddie; the dexterity with which words are manipulated, batted backwards and forwards by these two until the original message is almost unrecognisable is at once flabbergasting and frightening.

Anti-capitalist protesters outside the hotel add to the difficulties the PM's aides are experiencing but they turn out to be of little consequence as the evening's events unfold, until they provide the perfect cover-up.

Forget conflict with the opposition; as is all too familiar, issues within the party cause the major problems and lead to the potential downfall of the administration. Granville Saxton's portrayal of the well-oiled George, member of both the House of Lords and the Cabinet, who is completely at odds with all politics both old and new, is perfect. He is repulsed by the campaigners, belittled by Eddie and splutters at the use of the word 'comrade' on the conference floor. The use of his land for 'secret' GM crop testing and the ensuing consequences are possibly the final nail in the coffin for the Government.

Press secretary Eddie's idealistic past almost catches up with him in the form of his ex-partner and journalist Liz who is on the brink of breaking the story that could destroy the government and re-launch her mainstream career. Alex Giannini gives us a man obsessed with spin, publicity and his leather recliner in equal and believable amounts. But it is through his quick-wittedness and skill that the situation is turned around.

Regardless what one may feel about Tony Blair, Hywel Morgan's delivery of his final speech is a masterpiece of impersonation, immaculately timed for full impact exactly like the real thing.

A healthy dose of scepticism does nobody any harm and can indeed be very enjoyable.

Paul: Will Barton
Simon: Jamie Chapman
Liz: Hazel Ellerby
Eddie: Alex Giannini
DL: Hywel Morgan
George: Granville Saxton
Asha: Rebecca Sarker

Director: Richard Baron
Designer: Edward Lipscomb
Sound Designer: Jon Beales
Lighting Designer: Simon Wilkinson
Video: Mark Bushnell

2004-05-07 16:49:05