Review: The Joy of Politics, Brunton Theatre

Published on Tuesday 9 February 2010 09:07

The Joy of Politics ***, Brunton Theatre

WHEN did the fun go out of politics? It seems that one day in the mid-90s Britain woke up to a world of identikit, middle of the road Blairites in sharp suits with slick slogans and distinct lack of joie de vivre.

Colourful politicians of the ilk of George Galloway, John Prescott and Tommy Sheridan have become a rare phenomenon, replaced by earnest young men Twittering the party line.

And while satire is still a healthy part of the democratic process, it too seems to have become darker and more cutting. Gone are the sharp yet affectionate social observations made by a slew of popular programmes like That Was The Week That Was, Spitting Image, Yes, Minister and Drop The Dead Donkey; in their place is the edgier The Thick of It and Bremner, Bird and Fortune.

Striving to resurrect a little of that old school political parody at the Brunton Theatre last night was The Joy Of Politics. A two man show based on the discovery of the diary of a wet young Westminster MP by the name of William Wilberforce, the play takes the form of a series of sketches and re-enactments from the politician's journal.

The first show in a three-month run touring the UK, it opened well with a loose introduction to the evening's main theme and a run through the day's news stories accessorised with some pithy ad libs.

Yet Ciaran Murtagh and Andrew Jones's evening slowly crumbled thereafter, due in the most part to a distinct lack of material. Running at 90 minutes, there were moments when it seemed as if the pair were filling time rather than pushing forward the story's narrative.

Indeed, the show has no proper ending, the diary merely stops and Murtagh and Jones are left to finish the show with a vague "what if" scenario. Written by the seasoned Murtagh, Jones and director Cal McCrystal, who have between them created, produced and directed scores of touring shows, the performance comes across as a feeble work in progress.

Their musical numbers are particularly awful. While Winston Churchill's MC Hammer impression is, by all means, ingenious, their delivery is poor, singing awful and lyrics short on bite. A Marxist tribute to the Pet Shop Boys died an exceptionally sad and painful death.

As the crew are all Edinburgh Fringe veterans, however, one can't help but wonder if this play will reappear in a wittier, tighter 45-minute production at this year's Festival. After all the kinks have been ironed out on the road in front of small, regional audiences, this play might be far better placed to be a hit.

The versatile set, comprised of a rotating wall of wooden panels, certainly has the look of a prop designed to fit quickly and easily into a small Edinburgh venue.

But then, blame for the Joy of Politics problems could just as easily lie with the politicians. So well whipped into conformity and bland pre-packaged aphorisms are they that there really aren't many out there who are ripe for parody anymore.