REVIEW | I’m Sorry Prime Minister, I Can't Quite Remember - Barn Theatre
Michaela Bennison, Clive Francis and Christopher Bianchi, Photo by Alex TabriziWritten by Eliott.
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
Jonathan Lynn has opted to finish his ‘I’m Sorry Prime Minister’ series in the quaint town of Cirencester, and their stunning venue, The Barn Theatre. A series which has spanned nearly 40 years of work on television, first airing in 1986, the story here continues to follow the life of much-loved characters Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby, but also serves as a cherished memory for Lynn’s writing partner, Anthony Jay, who sadly passed away in 2016. Seeing the pair of characters now live out their lives whilst in their 80s, you could tell from the audience at this performance, that there was a sense of familiarity and nostalgia for the story taking place and two men who some may have grown up with on their screens.
Whilst I’m Sorry Prime Minister, I Can’t Quite Remember doesn’t necessarily introduce a whole new collective of characters for the first time, it doesn’t mean that the show should be a second thought when thinking of attending, for within the first few lines, we are introduced to Michaela Bennison’s positively radiant Sophie, a newly written character that acts as a device for new attendees to be brought into this world, and keeps us up to date with prior moments that link the television show to the stage adaptation. With Jim Hacker (Christopher Bianchi) now residing on the grounds of Hacker College, Oxford, it’s the modern times that come as his downfall, as he often forgets what he may have said in the past, and how those actions cause consequences, which is where Bennison’s Sophie comes into play, taking up the role of his care worker. There’s a sharp but witty rapport between the two actors that is a delight to watch on stage, with pleasantries causing some mature laughter and response from the audience. The way their friendship develops also is one of a fascinating nature; with the show set in 2023, themes of racism and colonialism are spoken in vital moments that test the pair, and the writing is strong enough to keep us engaged in this outing without it becoming hysterical.
Set against the backdrop of Lee Newby’s design that so readily sits within Hacker’s world that fans of the series have come to love, when Clive Francis appears on stage as Sir Humphrey Appleby, there’s a sense of royalness on stage; Davis once appeared on the series during its first run in 1986, so the nod here is one that few may recognise, and his outing here opposite Bianchi is a comical watch, with bickering unfolding to great attention, and the two become the highlight of this whole affair. Finally, and first introduced with shrouded mystery as ‘The Visitor’, Andy Hawthorne appears in a hooded raincoat and arched umbrella to cause a spanner in Hacker’s uncertain future. Whilst Newby’s set shows us heavily rained and snowy conditions with help from LED screens beyond two windows, there’s a lack of detail in not spritzing the coat or creating the snow-like effect to give the entrance more authenticity, but nevertheless, when Hawthorne is present, the mood shifts in ways that sees us making the moral judgment on which side we should be siding with; Jonathan Lynn’s final outing with characters is executed with a decent conclusion to the series, and I hope will very much please those who have grown up with the series and these characters.
At Barn Theatre until 04 Nov.
★ ★ ★
