An old man in a grubby dressing-gown shuffles on stage. He's surrounded by books,cassette tapes, recording devices. And the odd banana. He has a fondness for bananas.
Yes, it's Tony Benn. Once declared the most dangerous man in the country. A divisive loony left winger or a champion of democracy? A socialist visionary, even? Your view on the late, great, ex-peer will depend upon your political leanings. Whatever your voting preferences, nobody can deny Tony Benn spent a lifetime at the heart of British government and, therefore, led a life ripe for dramatisation.
This one-man play written by Andy Barrett and directed by Giles Croft, sets out to ambitiously condense Benn's remarkable life into eighty minutes. We see Tony looking back over six decades: it begins with the War, and the death of his beloved brother. It goes on to span twelve prime ministers, before ending up with those vagaries of old age, loneliness and a weak bladder. We get anecdotes about Chairman Mao and Khrushchev in with jokes about Mandelson and Blair.
For those of us who witnessed Benn speaking live, actor Philip Bretherton does do a great job of capturing his geniality and wit. The script, clearly on Benn's side, portrays him as a man at odd with his peer, someone who sees capitalism for the dirty business it is and fights for the working people. The word 'collective' crops up a lot, a word that's fallen out of favour but which trips off Tony's tongue with ease. He believes public services should be provided by the state and not by free market entrepreneurs. Funny how old fashioned that view sounds today. Did British socialism die with Benn, or is it due a resurrection?
This play will refresh your memory on who Benn was and what he stood for. It gives a fascinating insight into his home life juxtaposed with the milestones of his career. It's an evening of reminisces rather than a narrative. If he had a darker side, it's not here. Benn is portrayed as a lovely old man, a sharp intellect that dwarfed his fellow MPs, a compassionate individual who loved his wife and loved his country.
And yes, it takes one socialist to change a light bulb, as the elderly Benn riskily balances on top of his table; an act symbolising the courage of a man who refused to betray his principles. How many more like him could we find in the Houses of Commons?
Nottingham Playhouse presents Tony's Last Tape from Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August 2015.
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