We don’t get enough satire on our stages. Are we going soft? Afraid of a backlash from the Arts Council? Fortunately Armando Iannuchi is here to correct that with coruscating 90-minute run through the political shitshow of the last 7/8 years, a sort of bargain version of the Covid Inquiry that we’re living through daily at present. The real thing will take c. 5 years and cost in excess of £100m but is unlikely to tell us more than we already know about the extraordinary incompetence and rampant corruption that this show satirises.
It starts as an entertainment by Shakespearean players, in verse. What follows is a viscous but extremely funny satire, with a sprinkling of Panto, executed by the strolling players sans verse. Boris is its chief target, but it takes aim at almost every government minister and ex-minister, and others. No need to name them; they’ve haunted us long enough. It’s very clever and an absolute hoot, but like all good satire anchored in truth, so you’re laughing out loud whilst cursing within.
It’s success is not just Iannucci’s writing and long-term collaborator Patrick Marber’s staging, but five superb performances from Faye Castelow, Paul Chahidi (an unlikely but brilliant Boris), Debra Gillett, Natasha Jayetileke and Amalia Vitale. Boris’ hair plays a key role, even after the curtain comes down (metaphorically – this is Soho Theatre) when the stage manager gets the last laugh.
There is something thrilling about theatre tackling the issues of the day like this. Terrific entertainment but with a really big bite.
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