This is actually the second musical re-telling of Blair’s
life, after 2007’s 'Tony! The Musical' which was written by Chris Bush
(creator of the excellent and equally bonkers 'The Assassination of Katie
Hopkins', as well as 'Standing at the Sky’s Edge', which is about to
return to the West End after receiving critical acclaim). 'Tony!',
this time written by comedian Harry Hill with music by Steve Brown, illustrates
the story of the grinning labour leader’s rise (and fall) in the same satirical
way but with a healthy injection of Hill’s madcap humour.
With Hill’s name stamped firmly across all promotional
material, it would be ridiculous to go into the performance expecting an
evening of sombre monologues and heart-wrenching ballads. 'Tony!' is
stuffed with the kind of silly gags and slapstick humour that you’d expect from
Hill, but it does also manage to pack a punch.
Act one could be mistaken for being something of a love
letter to the Blair era. The cast flounce around the stage wailing (in the most
prominent earworm of the night) the melodramatic chorus of the opening number
(imaginatively titled ‘Tony’). As they strut and pose in this over-the-top,
faux-Shakespearean way around the stage, we get the first inkling that this is
not a show to be taken too seriously. The cast are well aware of the juxtaposition
between its form and subject, and tongues are firmly placed in cheeks. We then
join a young Tony, played with enormous levels of Cheshire-cat energy by Jack
Whittle, at the exact moment of his birth, making a typically Hill-esque
entrance from a curtain between his mother’s legs.
Whittle’s exuberance and energy throughout the show is
really admirable and you can tell he is relishing creating this cartoonish
version of the former Prime Minister. He certainly has the look of a young
Blair, and his grin and head-wobble sometimes are unsettlingly reminiscent of a
Thunderbirds puppet. Whittle is joined by an equally talented cast, most
notably Rosie Strobel, who almost steals the show as John Prescott, Liam
Gallagher and (unbelievably) Osama Bin Laden. The fact Strobel can slip so
easily into such diverse roles is highly impressive. Phil Sealey as Sadam
Hussein is equally hilarious and both actors really mine the absurd comedy from
their characters with their over-animated gestures and dodgy facial hair. In 'Tony!’s
world, the characters who cause the most destruction are the ones who are
poked fun of the most. Tori Burgess is also fun as a broadly Liverpudlian
version of Cherie Blair. Cherie and Tony’s sultry tango is a highlight of the
show, even if it does lead to the sex scene none of us asked to see. Credit
must also go to Cherie’s wig, which is also a bit of a scene stealer.
Act two is where the show really finds its feet and there’s
a clear change of gear. If the first act details his rise to the top, act two
sets up Blair’s fall from grace and certainly does not let him off lightly. The
atrocities that happened under Blair’s reign are depicted with the usual
light-heartedness and ridicule we expect from the production, until an
uncomfortable moment when we are confronted with just how devastating these
wars were. It’s a stunning shift in tone that definitely makes an impact.
Martin Johnston adds an interesting layer to the story as
George W Bush, playing his relationship with Blair with a homoerotic undertone
which is second in its seat-shifting discomfort factor to a previous scene
involving a carrot (which is going to take a while to eradicate from my mind,
as well as the poor unfortunate person sitting on the front row!). Howard Samuels
adds a touch of camp as Peter Mandelson, who also acts as a narrator,
overseeing the madness and breaking the fourth wall to add a scathing comment
or two.
Whilst there are certainly parts of the show that feel like
a nightmarish fairground ride, 'Tony!' is more than just a gross
caricature of one of Labour’s most memorable leaders. It portrays the upsides
of Blair’s reign with pride and nostalgia but doesn’t shy away from the
mistakes of his era, which are shown with brutal honesty. It takes us on a
madcap ride through the nineties political landscape and highlights the carnage
caused by some of the World’s most notorious leaders, but, amongst the comedy
and silliness, it leaves the audience questioning: Is it the leaders or the
voters who are really to blame?
Reviewer - Gavin Hayes
on - 10.10.23
So sorry We blissed your show last night. We went to Worthing Assembley Hall instead of Tunbridge wWe.las Assemly rooms. Some howI must have been confused when booking on Worthing Theatre site an
ReplyDeleteD went on to your tour. My Grandaughteris trying to reclaim a voucher but not sure is we will have any luck. Have seen you in Benidorm and Paul Jones in Bognor Regis. Hope you will come to Worthing again next year. Joan