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When Two
Ladies Clash
Handbagged
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Until 31st October
2015
During
the 1980s, the Queen and Margaret Thatcher both had very public personas. It is
easy to believe you’d know what it would have been like to meet either of them.
As they both lived their lives in the full glare of the tabloid-driven world,
they both had a lot of different reasons to remember that decade. Handbagged is
an amusing look at the events of that 11 year period from 1979 when Mrs
Thatcher was elected as Prime Minister. Moira Buffini has penned a play that
imagines how these two ladies interacted as major world events unfolded.
The
small cast of six consists of two Queens and two Mrs Thatchers.
Emma Handy and Sanchia McCormack battle out the weekly meetings over biscuits
and sponge cake whilst Susie Blake and Kate Fahy offer the audience their more
private thoughts, occasionally with hindsight. Susie in particular has a
wonderful range of one liners to deliver with superb comic timing.
A
huge range of roles from Dennis Thatcher, members of the cabinet and world
leaders to Mrs Regan and Neil Kinnock, are played by Asif Khan and Richard
Teverson. The slick, and sometimes less than slick, changing of roles gives the
show the feel of a light entertainment show on tv rather than a serious
historical theatre production. It is, however, Asif’s character that points out
some of the major issues about living in the 80s, from the strikes to
unemployment and from Libyan air strikes through to the unrest over the poll
tax. Though the serious news of the time is flagged up, the general direction
of the play never loses the light touch and it usually finds the funny side of
the story.
From
the very beginning the play smashes the fourth wall as Mrs T and the Queen
address the theatre audience. Their casual asides frequently causes the Theatre
Royal audience to laugh. From the moment the Queen drags a chair across for
Margaret to use the lighter tone is set. The show portrays both the likely view
held at that time, for example Dennis Thatcher’s less than politically correct
observations, and a more current analysis.
Based
upon the speculation in the press at that time, the conversations are
believable. The way the 2 women felt about each other is also in keeping with
public perception. As Head of State, the Queen was unable to express any
displeasure in public, but her Christmas speeches often outlined her view on
society based upon a Christian viewpoint. Perhaps such views can come across as
socialist too and one can imagine how irritating the Prime Minister found that.
The
play is also good at quickly filling in the younger members of the audience on
the background to some significant events, such as Rhodesia, which they may not be
fully aware of. The 1980s were a time of a contracting empire and a change in
the political order. Both ladies were acutely aware of that though this does
not stop them trying to score points against each other.
The
show comes across as both friendly and light hearted and yet not dismissive of the
serious issues. It doesn’t set out to trivialise but it retains a strong sense
of humour. Strong acting the all six
coupled with acute sense of comic timing makes this a very entertaining show.
One is very amused!
This
review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East
Theatre Guide from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com).
Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo
on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo
Read
the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/preview-handbagged-at-newcastle-theatre.html
Tickets:
Handbagged
appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Monday 26th – Saturday 31st October
2015. Tickets from £12
(pay 50p less per ticket when you book online).
Tickets
can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21, (calls
cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) or select your own
seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.
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