Turning again to stage adaptations of successful TV series, Wick Theatre Company take on this updated political satire where Sir Humphrey’s cosy Whitehall world is moved to Chequers and, in the space of a night, chaos rules.
The presence of a special advisor sees a shift in the balance of power between Humphrey and Prime Minister, Jim Hacker, who facing various crises believes a solution lies with an oil deal with Kumranistan - but it comes with a moral dilemma.
As the farcical situations develop the audience is treated to some wonderfully witty and wicked lines full of biting political cynicism but they also have to contend with a verbose and, at times, turgid script.
Conciseness, successful in the TV episodes, is lost in this expansion However the cast work hard and manage to rise above the defects in the writing.
David Peaty’s Hacker is a mixture of bewildered incompetence and cunning survival instinct. Sir Humphrey is in the safe hands of Guy Steddon who delivers a nicely understated performance and manages to cope well with those marathon obfuscatory explanations.
There are also notable performances from Julian Batstone as the put upon Bernard and from Tony Brownings and Sarah Frost.
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