WHIPPING IT UP till 28 April.
London.
WHIPPING IT UP
by Steve Thompson.
New Ambassadors Theatre To 28 April 2007.
Mon–Sat 7.30pm, Mat Sat & Wed 2.30pm.
TICKETS: 0870 060 6627.
www.theambassadors.com
Review: Emily Corrigan 2 March 2007.
Political hilarity - but aching for development.
After the success of Damages, Steve Thompson’s hilariously damning indictment of tabloid values, we might come to expect something similar three years later. Happily, Thompson more than delivers with this slick, confident take on behind-the-scenes parliamentary politics.
Cameron’s Tories are now in office with a meagre majority of three, but all is not well in the Whips' office when a vote on a seemingly minor bill threatens to develop into a major backbench rebellion. Fulton (Richard Wilson, on excellent form) leads the whips, while newcomer Guy (Nicholas Rowe) feebly tries to stand his ground.
The jokes fly thick and fast from the offset, while the audience peddle to keep up. Robert Bathurst is beautifully cast as knowing, manipulative Alistair, playing off his public school persona to riotous effect. Lee Ross is similarly well-cast as fresh-faced arrogant Tim, whose loyalty to the Tory cause is questionable at best. Only Kellie Bright seems slightly out of her depth as Maggie, the scheming undercover journalist.
Such fun is the opening half of this play that it almost seems a shame when the plot kicks in. It’s all back-stabbing and double-crossing and if we see the climax coming a mile off it doesn’t really matter. What is important here is pacing, humour and lively characterisation; Thompson excels at all three.
Tim Shorthall’s set – reminiscent of an Oxbridge dorm – is fitting, and Tamara Harvey directs with skill. Helen Schlesinger is also notably excellent, so it seems a shame that both she and her character are given so little stage time.
If anything, this play is aching for further development. The homely office setting, the already warmly familiar characters - and of course, Richard Wilson - all point towards sitcom adaptation. Let’s hope that it happens, because satire this good is increasingly hard to come by.
Fulton: Richard Wilson.
Alistair: Robert Bathurst.
Tim: Lee Ross.
Delia: Helen Schlesinger.
Guy: Nicholas Rowe.
Maggie: Kellie Bright.
Director: Tamara Harvey.
Original Production Directed by: Terry Johnson.
Designer: Tim Shorthall.
Lighting: Simon Corder.
Sound: Fergus O’Hare.
2007-03-13 08:16:39