A group of talking heads, but my oh my, what they had to say! Combining actual quotes with speculation about what was said behind closed doors, this is a fascinating review of the George W Bush era.
Michael Healey looks nothing like Dubya, but captures him brilliantly . Great performances by Hardee Lineham as DIck CHeney, Karen Robinson as Condoleeza Rice and David Fox as Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Binsley as Paul Wolfowitz and Nigel Shawn Willams as Colin Powell, with a strong supporting cast of journalists, bureaucrats, politicians etc, kept you glued to your seat, even though you know what happens. It's not the plot, but the process that is important.
It is a very time specific play, but may survive as a general portrait of political greed and hubris.
This was powerful and fast paced. It was very involving, despite sitting too far forward in the Royal Alexandra - the first 10 to 12 rows are on the flat so you spend your time dodging from side to side around the person in front of you.
ReplyDeleteNow that Shaw is stretching its mandate, this play would fit well there it's very Shavian.
The cast was excellent, they didn't try impersonations, or caricatures, but represented the individuals/points of view very clearly - despite everyone (except Blair) wearing a grey suit.
I think it can last - although it may need some contextualization in the program at some point.