SORRY PRIME MINISTER AT THE ARTS THEATRE
Simon Rouse and Clive Francis as the old adversaries
The idea of a comedy based on government and civil service came to Anthony Jay, famous for That Was the Week That Was and The Frost Report. He linked up with Jonathan Lynn and they both used straight from the horse’s mouth sources for their stories. They found out that the truth was far funnier than anything they could make up. Using Labour insiders, Marcia Williams and Bernard Donoghue they got their idea off the ground. The final rendezvous was with tempestuous glamour politician Michael Heseltine. He joined them for lunch and after yet another bottle of claret, spilled the beans of just how hilariously confused government really was. As for the voters he took his wallet out of his jacket and tapped it. ‘This is all they care about’ he said. Money he meant. What resulted was Yes Minister which made stars of its cast. Tonight’s play , I’m Sorry Prime Minister is the final chapter in this long and wildly successful series of disclosures, cynicisms, contradictions and all-round comedy carefully crafted by the remaining writer, Jonathan Lynn.
It was a very enjoyable production
.Jim Hacker, one time PM remember? is in a hole. Now Head of Hacker College he has offended the students with a joke about ladies ’lingerie – made in a lift - unfortunately to the College Head of Gender Studies. He is on the way out and appeals to his old adversary Sir Humphrey to help. He himself is now in a tragic penniless hole, a dark basement room with no money – he wolfs down the biscuits Jim provides instead of lunch and offers to sort out the dilemma. All of this is mediated by care giver Sophie played with warmth and skill by Princess Dunnough.
The script crackles with gags about getting older, there is a combative streak with the youthful attitudes of Sophie, and the clash of generations. It was an entertaining, even daring debate – with the familiar characters of yore. In the hands of actors so experienced and accomplished and with a script from a Master of irony how could they go wrong?
Sophie played by Princess Dunnough
Clive Francis as Sir Humphrey
Clive Francis in cynical mode handles Jim’s small selling biography
