Coinciding with this year’s release of new Yes Prime Minister episodes on Gold, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn’s stage production of the popular sitcom goes on UK tour after its third West End run. Leo Owen catches the show at Bradford’s Alhambra …
“A government’s seldom about right or wrong – it’s about choosing the lesser evil,” says Jay and Lynn’s famous titular character, Prime Minister Jim Hacker, in keeping with the show’s original spirit. Designer Simon Higlett’s set also remains true to the 80s’ sitcom with sumptuous oak-panelled walls to represent the PM’s country residence, Chequers.
Jim Hacker (normally Michael Fenton Stevens but tonight played by understudy, Tony Boncza) is belittled before appearing on stage by Cabinet Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby (Crispin Redman) who says being PM is the “only top job that requires no previous experience… and limited intelligence” while openly discussing democracy with Bernard Woolley, the Prime Minister’s Principle Private Secretary (Michael Matus). Having already set up our expectations through the series and opening discussion, Jay and Lynn generously provide Boncza’s controversially racist character with a variety of incompetent sounding lines, from pleas of “Tell me what I should do” to jumbled word meanings (“I’m their leader – I must follow them”) and firm ultimatums (“I’m giving you 48 hours to get to Heathrow”).
To more equally pit his character against the Sir Humphrey/Bernard team and make the play more contemporary, Jay and Lynn write in Claire Sutton, Hacker’s SPAD (Special Policy Advisor) played by Indra Ove. The show is modernised by references to the coalition government in power, fear of the collapsing Euro, austerity measures in place and the politics of oil. Hacker now lives in a world of 24-hour news, Blackberrys and cultural awareness. His character’s negative view of Europe touches upon the European union and the difficulties he faces in gaining popularity – something that only seems easily achievable through global warming policies (“It’s easy to deal with as no-one knows if it’s real or not”). Unlike the Hacker of TV shows, the stage version fears the media and views showbiz celebrities as a significant threat, believing the Cabinet would never go against Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
As is to be expected, Jay and Lynn’s script is full of the ridiculous jargon of politics and is a fast-talking weighty watch. Like the original TV series, Sir Humphrey’s character is the most cryptic, circumlocuting straight answers throughout, resulting in many circular conversations with characters unwilling to admit they no longer understand.
The script isn’t hilarious but amusing at times with particularly entertaining scenes involving a prompt card phone interview with the BBC’s press office, a conversation with the BBC Director General (Paul Fuller) and initial discussions on what to do about the Minister of Kumranistan’s request for three prostitutes of different ethnicity to seal an oil deal and loan offer (“Is it better for three call girls to get screwed than the entire European economy?… Horizontal diplomacy…”).
Conforming to the original show set-up, the stage production has slapstick elements and includes regular episode occurrences. Hacker invariably ends up hiding under his desk rolled up in a ball, puts on embarrassing voices during media interviews and contemplates ridiculous solutions to problems (CIA involvement, praying for guidance on how to handle the prostitute dilemma…). The strongest actor and character, Sir Humphrey of course re-appears half-way through the second half to save the day and the show ends with its characteristic theme tune and final line “Yes Prime Minister”.
Built entirely around the escalation of one unexpected situation with two one hour acts, on stage Yes Prime Minister feels a little slow with the first half dragging, suggesting the production could perhaps do with losing a half hour. The more recent emergence of shows like The Thick Of It, leaves Yes Prime Minister feeling a bit dated and tame, making its humour unlikely to cut it with younger audiences. If you grew up watching the original TV series, you’re more likely to enjoy the show.
Yes Prime Minister showed at The Alhambra in Bradford between April 9-13 before continuing its UK tour.
Went to see this at Alhambra and was disappointed, shocked even, by turnout. Only just over half full. However, when the play started I realised it was because the play was actually the first few episodes (I think) of the new series. I presume most people stayed away as they were either fans of the show who’ve seen the new and knew the storyline or are fans of the show and didn’t like the new one.
Personally, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a good play and full of laughter. However, as with the new series, they simply shouldn’t have used the same character names as the characters, actors and personae of the original are inimitable; once I forgot that this was supposed to be the Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard, and the actors I know and love, I had a much better – even excellent – time.