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Royals somehow just fail to make comedy
KING OF HEARTS
Hampstead Theatre
I WENT to Hampstead Theatre for this political farce expecting a night of razor sharp wit condemning these scoundrel times.
Playwright Alistair Beaton was a scriptwriter for Spitting Image and for Gordon Brown. He wrote the Trial of Tony Blair and A Very Social Secretary for Channel 4. I interviewed him a fortnight ago and he made me laugh.
But his play left me feeling strangely indifferent.
It is about the political wrangling that takes place around a Prince’s decision to marry a Muslim girl and convert to Islam. As the politicians’ lies and backstabbing unravels it is the spotless decency of the heir to the throne that holds the moral high ground.
It kept me interested. I liked the characters. Out of Joint’s Max Stafford-Clark’s directs with dexterity. Ben Righton as Prince “Richard” – read William – was credible as the future King. Justin Salinger played a toady, back stabbing, turncoat Prime Minister, whose every decision is shared with the leader of the opposition (Jeff Rawle).
Roddy Maude-Roxby got the most laughs as the “vague”, yet progressive, Archbishop of Cantebury.
There is even an insider’s joke, subtly woven into the epilogue. It relates to one Hampstead pub – though it would be beyond bad taste to reveal it in this family newspaper – and it must be said that for all Beaton’s political correctness there were some slightly dodgy gay jibes.
The Trial of Tony Blair, following the success of A Very Social Secretary, was criticised for being a little predictable.
I think King of Hearts suffers similarly.
The audience at the Hampstead Theatre knew what they were going to get and when they got it they were a little disappointed.
Has Beaton fallen at the same hurdle as the journalist Toby Young?
Both have written a successful script about David Blunkett’s affair with Spectator publisher Kimberley Quinn to great acclaim.
Both followed up with a play about the Royals that was not.
Is there something about the monarchy that doesn’t make good theatre – or is it simply that we just don’t care?
Until march 28
020 7722 9301 |
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