You keep on giving them the benefit of the doubt, because you want to believe. Eventually you've given them so much, there's nothing left."
The subject of spin in politics is never off the agenda, but this political satire, featuring a leading character not entirely dissimilar to Alistair Campbell, manages to be original and topical despite being written several years ago. If you had any remaining faith in The Third Way, Feelgood is the last nail in its coffin.
The play is set in a chintzy seaside hotel during party conference, on the eve of the Prime Minister's big speech in which he must appeal to every focus group and quell dissent from the more radical party faithful. The play progresses as a farce, the absurdity building like an episode of Fawlty Towers. Eddie, the PM's press secretary, brilliantly played by Alex Giannini, is at the centre of things, controlling the debate in the conference chamber, cracking the whip over the speech-writer and arranging public humiliations for the Deputy Prime Minister.
A spanner is thrown in the works, however, he learns that the press are about to get hold of a potentially devastating scandal involving genetically modified crops. Eddie's manipulative powers are tested to the limit when the journalist in question turns out to be his bitter and vengeful ex-wife, Liz. He has to convince her not to publish and he uses his most effective weapon against dissentors: co-opting them. He offers her a committee job and the promise of influencing government policy. Paul, the disaffected speech writer, sees the danger and decides that it's time someone took a stand - as long as it isn't him. As he explains to Liz, "You keep on giving them the benefit of the doubt, because you want to believe. Eventually you've given them so much, there's nothing left."
A spanner is thrown in the works, however, he learns that the press are about to get hold of a potentially devastating scandal involving genetically modified crops. Eddie's manipulative powers are tested to the limit when the journalist in question turns out to be his bitter and vengeful ex-wife, Liz. He has to convince her not to publish and he uses his most effective weapon against dissentors: co-opting them. He offers her a committee job and the promise of influencing government policy. Paul, the disaffected speech writer, sees the danger and decides that it's time someone took a stand - as long as it isn't him. As he explains to Liz, "You keep on giving them the benefit of the doubt, because you want to believe. Eventually you've given them so much, there's nothing left."
I'm always worried when I see television screens on the stage - they usually detract from a theatre production - but in this case they are used to good effect in the PM's big speech which provides the climax for the play. Hywel Morgan's impersonation of Tony Blair is superb and all the characters are excellently portrayed and frighteningly recognisable. A very funny play that is well worth going to see if only to have your apathy and cynicism reinforced.
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