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Feelgood
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- Play synopsis
- Background
- Cast & crew
- Playwright
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An outrageously funny satire on modern politics and the fine art of spin It's party conference time, and in the leader's hotel suite, the spin doctors are sweating over the Prime Minister's speech. With public opinion increasingly volatile, there's panic at the top. This time it's all got to be perfect. But in the same hotel a journalist is piecing together a scandal so far-reaching that it could keep the party out of power for a generation. Can the story be killed? Can the journalist be bought off? And exactly how far will a government go to hush up a scandal? Meet the faceless men behind the Prime Minister brought to life by our incredibly talented Adelaide cast. |
"Left me sobbing with laughter" -The Times “The most breathtaking political comedy for seasons, the most valuable sustained political satire for more than a decade.” -Financial Times “Beaton is an agile writer, his plot is ingeniously tucked and pleated” -Time Out
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Meet the faceless men Winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy, this hilarious look at the art of spin has never been more topical in Australian politics. Writer Alistair Beaton shares some background to the play: "In a curious moment of symmetry, the original production of Feelgood opened exactly a year to the day after I handed over the script to a producer. This struck me at the time as horribly slow. I had written a topical political comedy, hadn't’t I? For months I nagged producers to hurry up, fearing that at any moment the play could be overtaken by events. ‘Faster,’ I shouted, ‘faster!’, like some crazed coachman driving a team of tired nags. I was politely ignored. It turned out, of course, that my sense of urgency was misplaced. Not only did Feelgood reach out beyond the time of its writing, it also reached out beyond the narrow limits of British politics. Since the original productions at Hampstead and the West End, Feelgood has been seen in many other countries. I like to think that this is because Feelgood is a play that entertains rather than preaches, but maybe it’s also because it strikes a chord with honest citizens everywhere, more and more of whom feel manipulated by spin and presentation. As marketing techniques replace honest debate and focus groups replace political passion, we are increasingly alienated from the process we call democracy. It seems to me the culmination of this process was the war in Iraq, the subject of my most recent play, Follow My Leader. Having taken the decision to go to war, Blair and Bush set about creating public reasons for doing so. Such is Blair’s belief in the power of spin that he seemed to be confident of pulling it off. But this time he has found the limits of spin. In a way, Feelgood is an exploration of that very subject – the limits of spin. As fictitious advisors in the play weave their web of deceit, they discover that not everything can be resolved by presentation. As a result, alternative solutions began to be contemplated…. Feelgood was running at the Garrick Theatre on that fateful day, 11th September 2001. For a week or two afterwards, audiences dropped off. This reflected a general trend in the West End, as people everywhere struggled to digest the import of the dreadful events on America. But I think there was also a feeling among theatergoers that at a time of crisis, possibly of war, they wanted to believe their leaders. That period soon passed, and the theatre filled up again, but it maybe revealed the ambivalence we all feel about our politicians. We want to trust them, but really we know we ought not to. That’s why I hope that in some small way Feelgood encourages the healthy scepticism towards our leaders that is the true spirit of a democratic society." Alistair Beaton |
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Ben Brooker Paul Paul is a passionate, ambitious young writer whose external wit belies a deeply troubled conscience. Most recently, Ben has appeared in Axe Soup’s debut production The Cut at the 2011 Adelaide Fringe Festival and as Scripps in Mixed Salad Productions’ award-winning The History Boys. Ben lives in Hawthorn and has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) with a major in drama from Flinders University. He is currently applying for postgraduate study and is writing more than one play. "I completely identify with Paul’s quest for quality in his work and with his moral instincts," says Ben. "Like me, he doesn't’t so much have a love of words but a love of the power that they are able to wield if used intelligently." |
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Tony Busch DL DL is Prime Minister and perfectly comfortable with exercising power. But is he in control of his political machine? Tony has just finished a season of The Cut for the Adelaide Fringe and was recently in the award-winning production of The Woman in Black and The Herbal Bed at the Adelaide Rep. Tony lives in Blackwood, has a passion for cooking and good wine and can be heard as a classical DJ on Adelaide’s Fine Music Station, 5MBS, 99.9FM. “DL is something of a martinet, always fun to play, so I’m looking forward to instilling unquestioning obedience in the rest of the cast,” grins Tony. |
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Lee Cook Simon Simon is a dishevelled sitcom writer who's thrown into the mix of political speech writers. He's bewildered yet dazzled by the power of the party machinery. Recently Lee has appeared in Out In The Open and The History Boys for Mixed Salad Productions. Lee lives in Norwood and enjoys cooking in all its forms and also a spot of golf when the weather calls for it. "I like the part of Simon as it gives me the chance to explore physical comedy," laughs Lee. |
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Paul Davies George George is an old-school politician in a new age, the world has moved on without him. He also has a terrible secret that might just bring down the government. Paul’s last role was as Vic in Man of the Moment for Therry. George looks like Vic. But sounds completely different and has different mannerisms. Paul lives at Greenhill in the Adelaide Hills, being the father of four small children and the owner of a small business makes most days quite full, although his unique hobby of shouting at the radio is leading to him being encouraged to get a job in the medium so that he can “do something about it.” “George represents many of the worst things about politics, he has limited ability but uses his connections to his own advantage, he has little or no respect for anyone else and is probably a functioning alcoholic. One can’t help but like him!
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Philippa Ewens Asha Asha, the lone female in the man’s world of wheeling and dealing, plays power games and uses her gender in an attempt to boost her career. Philippa has appeared in various Immanuel College productions as well as past Adelaide Fringe production Binge, a confronting play about teen addictions. She lives with her family in South Brighton, studies Law at Flinders University and likes to indulge in restaurant dining and live music. “Asha is a driven, exciting character to play,” says Philippa. “While she may spend her downtime choosing the right tie for the PM, she also has the nous and confidence to develop into a master manipulator, who can even make the ever controlling Eddie uneasy!” |
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Nicole Rutty Liz Liz is a journalist who seeks the truth and tries to use her position to help humanitarian causes. What does she do when she finds herself armed with some scandalous information that could potentially bring down the government? Recently, Nicole appeared in Scenes from a Separation at Stirling Players and The Herbal Bed at the Rep (also directed by Sally). Her last appearance for Mixed Salad was as Suzanna in Tempest. Nicole lives in West Croydon and enjoys spending time with her family and watching the odd mini series with a packet of fruit chocs in hand. "Liz is passionate about her causes," says Nicole. "I like her wit, dry sense of humour, intelligence and determination to stand up for what she believes in." |
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Dave Simms Eddie Eddie is the PM's intimidating press secretary who pushes spin to its limits. He's a control freak and he'll stop at nothing to get want he wants for the party. Recently, Dave directed Out in the Open for Mixed Salad Productions. He's also appeared in many shows including Tempest, The History Boys and Rabbit Hole. Dave lives in Eden Hills and spends a lot of time swimming in his lap pool and trimming hedges in the garden. "Eddie is a nasty piece of work," says Dave. "I'm relishing the chance to play the baddie for once - just so long as I can keep a straight face!" |
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Sally Putnam Director Sally is one of the co-founders of Mixed Salad Productions, winning accolades for her direction of our first production in 2003 Love! Valour! Compassion! Most recently Sally received rave reviews for her direction of our award-winning production of The History Boys and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. "I probably enjoy the rehearsals and the preparation more than the performances because I love working with creative and talented people," says Sally. In her private life, Sally is principal of a small Hills school. She lives in Athelstone and likes to read good books and make a quilt or two. |
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John Lucas Stage Manager John first became involved in working backstage for the Pink Files at Star Theatres in 2001. Years later he works on many projects at the Star Theatres on a regular basis. John is a founding crew member from Love! Valour! Compassion! in 2003 and has worked in a variety of roles on most of Mixed Salad's productions. This will be his third show as stage manager, the others being The Tempest and Out In The Open (which he thoroughly enjoyed). John's various interests include reading crime fiction, travelling, working at major sporting events and spending time with his 16yo dingo cross, Jimbo. |
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Alistair Beaton ALISTAIR BEATON is regarded as Britain’s leading political satirist. His work spans theatre, television, radio and publishing. He was born in Glasgow and educated at the Universities of Edinburgh, Moscow and Bochum, graduating from Edinburgh University with First Class Honours in Russian and German. Alistair wrote the award-winning television film A VERY SOCIAL SECRETARY about the David Blunkett affair, launching More4 in 2005. This was followed in 2007 by the Channel 4 film THE TRIAL OF TONY BLAIR, winner of the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for Best Single Drama and nominated for a BAFTA. His satirical comedy KING OF HEARTS was seen at London’s Hampstead Theatre in 2007, directed by Max Stafford-Clark and Ramin Gray. He is the author of the hit West End play FEELGOOD, which won the Evening Standard Best Comedy Award in 2001 and has since had successful runs in America, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Portugal, Estonia, Finland and Hungary. In 2004 he wrote the anti-war satire FOLLOW MY LEADER (Birmingham Rep & Hampstead Theatre). With Ned Sherrin he co-wrote THE RATEPAYERS’ IOLANTHE and THE METROPOLITAN MIKADO, as well as the musical SMALL EXPECTATIONS. He is author of the satirical novel A PLANET FOR THE PRESIDENT (Orion Books 2005) and a number of best-selling humour books, including THE LITTLE BOOK OF COMPLETE BOLLOCKS, THE LITTLE BOOK OF NEW LABOUR BOLLOCKS and THE LITTLE BOOK OF MANAGEMENT BOLLOCKS. He is co-author of DROP THE DEAD DONKEY 2000. He was one of the founding members of NOT THE NINE O’CLOCK NEWS and regularly wrote song lyrics for SPITTING IMAGE. With Barry Pilton he co-wrote the ITV sitcom DOWNWARDLY MOBILE. He speaks fluent German, Russian and French and in 2005 he translated and adapted THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (Chichester Festival Theatre) from the Russian. He has also written new English versions of DIE FLEDERMAUS and LA VIE PARISIENNE. In 2007 his translation of THE ARSONISTS by Max Frisch was staged at the Royal Court Theatre. In Spring 2008 his version of THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR ran at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. Alistair Beaton has worked as consultant with Columbia Tristar, developing new television comedies for the European market. He has also been adviser to WDR television in Cologne, and has run writing workshops in Britain and Germany. He co-wrote the screenplay MIT FÜNFZIG KÜSSEN MÄNNER ANDERS, directed by Margarethe von Trotta. Alistair's latest play, CALEDONIA, is a story of greed, euphoria and mass delusion. It is the story of a small, poor country mistaking itself for a place that is both big and rich. It is a co-production between the EIF and the National Theatre of Scotland and will be staged at this year's (2010) Edinburgh International Festival. |
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Click on each headline to read the story
Dave Simms is about to spin a funny political yarn.
The popular Adelaide actor will play an unpalatable political spin doctor called Eddie who has to squash a major scandal in Alistair Beaton's red-hot British comedy, Feelgood.
"It's set at a major party political conference in Britain where they are putting the finishing touches to the PM's major address to the party faithful," Simms says.
"What Eddie doesn't know is there's a journalist in a nearby room putting together the pieces of a story that could become a major scandal. When word gets out, fast Eddie has to put a major lid on it."
Simms says Eddie has a little black book "with a bit of dirt on everyone, very handy if you need to blackmail a favour."
"Eddie is a passionate and very hard worker but he has lost all perspective," he says. "He's so corrupted by the influence he wields, it has consumed him."
Simms says Eddie's character is apparently based on Tony Blair's infamous press secretary Alistair Campbell who handled the weapons of mass destruction campaign.
"Eddie is a nasty piece of work, and I'm relishing the chance to play the baddy for once - just so long as I can keep a straight face!"
Simms says he and director Sally Putnam where drawn to the play by the faceless nature of Australian politics.
"It's a very Australian trait to laugh at our politicians and question authority," he says.
"And this is a very funny, very clever play that really serves it up to people who richly deserve it. It's not about politics and policies, it's about how far people will go to spin a situation in their favour. And it seems there's very little Eddie won't do to keep the scandal on hold and the PM and the media on message."
Matt Byrne - Sunday Mail - 29 May 2011
Mixed Salad's new play says political policies are about what you can sell.
The tangled webs that politicians weave when they put their policies in the hands of spin doctors is played strictly for laughs in Mixed Salad's latest production, appropriately entitled Feelgood.
The play, by leading British satirist Alistair Beaton, is set at a party conference where faceless media advisers have worked themselves into a lather over the Prime Minister's speech and increasingly volatile public opinion.
Meanwhile, a journalist at the same hotel is piecing together a scandal that could keep the party out of power for a generation.
Beaton, who was part of the original writing team for TV comedy Not the Nine O'Clock News, also worked as a speech writer for former British prime minister Gordon Brown while he was still in opposition in the early 1990s.
"I tried to humanise him ...I did manage to help Gordon speak like a human being," Beaton recalls.
"We fell out before New Labour came to power because I was writing lines into his speeches that he regarded as suspiciously Left-wing. When he became Prime Minster, he didn't talk like a real person - he talked like he was trying to sound like a Prime Minister ought to sound."
Beaton says spin doctors have had a very different impact to previous generations of speech writers and press secretaries. "I think spin was something new...the government was completely obsessed with presentation rather than policy."
Beaton says that thanks to its director of communications, Britain's Blair government spun itself right into the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"Alistair Campbell was manipulating the intelligence reports and sexing up the dossier, the 'dodgy dossier' as we call it here," he says.
"In the past you reached a policy which you believed in and you did your best to sell it. Now the product has to be market-tested before you try to sell it. If you can't sell it, you don't believe in it - that, I think, is the change."
Beaton was covering a party conference for the BBC in the 1990s when he witnessed events which gave him the idea for Feelgood. He also read a book by another key adviser, Philip Gould, who described how he had to hide in the wardrobe while Tony Blair was telling shadow cabinet ministers that he was abandoning his commitment to nationalisation.
"Man hiding in a wardrobe in a hotel suite - I think we have a comedy here," Beaton recalls.
"The big issue in Feelgood is how far will somebody go to retain power? The pleasure, I think, for the audience is in seeing the desperation of a spin doctor as his control over events threatens to unravel."
Patrick MacDonald - The Advertiser - 26 May 2011
Feelgood comes to Adelaide
Adelaide’s acclaimed Mixed Salad Productions will present the South Australian premiere of the award winning West End comedy Feelgood, by Britain’s leading political satirist Alistair Beaton, at Star Theatre 1, 145 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton from 3 to 18 June (Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8pm); previews 1 and 2 June at 8.00pm; Super Sunset Sunday 12 June at 6.30pm.
Winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy, Feelgood is a hilarious look at the art of spin – a subject which has never been more topical in Australian politics.
Directed by Sally Putnam, Feelgood is set at party conference time in the UK leader's hotel suite, the faceless men behind the Prime Minister are sweating over his speech. With public opinion towards the government increasingly volatile, there's panic at the top – this time it's all got to be perfect. But in the same hotel a journalist is piecing together a scandal so far-reaching that it could keep the party out of power for a generation. Can the story be killed? Can the journalist be bought off? And exactly how far will a government go to hush up a scandal?
Scottish born Alistair Beaton is a political satirist, journalist, radio presenter, novelist and television writer. At one point in his career he was also a speech writer for Gordon Brown. His work spans theatre, television (he was founding member of the Not the Nine O’Clock News), radio and publishing.
Alistair Beaton says, ‘Since the original productions at Hampstead and the West End, Feelgood has had successful runs in America, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Portugal, Estonia, Finland and Hungary. I like to think that this is because Feelgood is a play that entertains rather than preaches, but maybe it’s also because it strikes a chord with honest citizens everywhere, more and more of whom feel manipulated by spin and presentation. Feelgood is an exploration of the limits of spin. As fictitious advisors in the play weave their web of deceit, they discover that not everything can be resolved by presentation.'
Director Sally Putnam believes the play encourages us all to be sceptical about when it comes to believing everything our MPs say. "In Australia we're very good at laughing at our leaders – it's healthy and it helps to keep them accountable, so you could say it's democratic to take a dig at the politicians and the faceless men who create the media sound-bites we hear every day!’
Mixed Salad Productions is a South Australian theatre company formed in 2003. Since their first production of Love! Valour! Compassion!, Mixed Salad has won multiple awards and gained a reputation for staging brave and new work in South Australia.
Hits such as Five women wearing the same dress, The History Boys, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and Out in the Open have definitely put Mixed Salad Productions on the map!
The Adelaide cast for Feelgood comprises;
Tickets for Feelgood are $25 and $20 (previews and Sundays only $15) and may be purchased from www.mixedsalad.com.au or by calling 0439 533 173.
1 May 2011
Feelgood is just that.
It also is feel-funny and intelligent, pithy and scary.
Part of the immediacy of the play doubtless is that playwright Alistair Beaton had, as a political speech writer, been a player in the real life of the farce, folly and duplicity of political backrooms.
Therein swell the Eddies of this world, drunk with their own power as spin doctors manipulating politicians, issues and the media.
Dave Simms has tapped their soulless depths in the most intense and astute characterisation - from waspish to manic. It's a bit of a tour de force.
He is surrounded by a very fine cast - Ben Brooker, Paul Davies, Philippa Ewens, Lee Cook, Nicole Rutty and Tony Busch.
Sally Putnam's direction is on the ball for the rise and fall of the comic timing. She also is on the ball with the set, bubble wrap surprisingly effective as a sort of bottleglass walling in the posh seaside hotel suite.
This is a very classy and very funny production, typical of the high standards of Mixed Salad Productions.
Samela Harris - Monday 6 June 2011
In Alistair Beaton’s play, the British Prime Minister, known to his staff as D L, is due to make a major speech.
The initials are not those of the Prime Minister, but an abbreviation of Divine Light, although there are alternative variations that they occasionally use. Beaton drew on his own experiences for the concepts explored in this work, as he was a speech writer for Gordon Brown. The party conference, taking place in a five star seaside hotel, has an anti-capitalist riot in the street outside as its background. That, however, is nothing compared to the effect that revelations about to be made in the Prime minster’s hotel suite will have.
His speech writer, Paul, and his Press Secretary, Eddie, are collaborating on the speech. They are joined by long time party member, George, and a scandal that he admits to threatens to bring down the Government. The more that he tells them about it, the worse it gets. Asha, the only woman on the team, arrives and attempts to impose her authority and they, in return, patronise her. To add to their problems, D. L. has sent for a television situation comedy scriptwriter, Simon, to assist them with the jokes in the speech.
Eddie discovers that a journalist has got wind of the scandal, and it turns out that the journalist is his ex-wife. She is also staying in the hotel and he goes to see her to try to ascertain just how much she knows. She appears to know everything and he tries to talk her out of publishing, even to the point of taking her to meet D. L., where she cuts a deal, promising not to publish in exchange for a major policy change by the Government.
Finally, D. L. makes his appearance and delivers his speech. He says that, in light of recent events, he has discarded the speech that he had prepared and intends to speak off the cuff. His speech contains a few surprises, but you will need to wait until the end of the play to find out what they are, which means that you will have to attend the production.
Sally Putnam has found a great cast and and crafted a tight production that looks at political manipulation and the spin that they put on reporting events. The primary question that is asked is about the lengths to which people will go and Putnam keeps a strong focus on the central theme whilst allowing the associated aspects to develop alongside.
Ben Brooker is Paul, giving us a convincing performance as a man caught between conflicting influences: his career, and his conscience. Brooker clearly shows us, in his fully developed characterisation, Paul’s transition from worrying about the speech and the effects that events are having on its construction, to his disillusionment and self-questioning. He tries to break free of the influence of Eddie, but Eddie is a powerful man.
Dave Simms plays Eddie and presents us with a man dedicated to winning and retaining power for his party, above all else. Simms cleverly creates a character who swings from outright heavy-handed tactics, to almost seductively trying to convince others to do his bidding. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and Eddie is absolutely corrupt, even though the power is supposed to rest with his boss, D. L. For a moment we briefly see his human side as Simms gives us a sensitive glimpse at Eddie’s regret at the breakdown of his marriage, but he quickly regains his cold, calculating persona.
Philippa Ewens is Asha, a clever portrayal of an insecure token woman in a man’s world, trying to assert her authority, without acknowledging that she really doesn’t have any, the most important thing that she actually does is selecting the tie that D. l. will wear for his speech. Ewens portrayal makes us aware that Asha suspects that the others treat her partly as a nuisance and partly as a joke, but is in denial.
George is played by Paul Davies in an hilarious depiction of the bumbling, out of touch politician of an earlier generation who is till hanging on, to the embarrassment of the younger generation of political predators. In spite of the magnitude of his blundering he still thinks it can simply be swept under the carpet and Davies makes the most of the realisation that, this time, he might not be saved.
Lee Cook plays Simon, the gormless gag writer who is completely lost in trying to comprehend the enormity of all that is happening around him. Most of it goes over his head and what little he does understand he treats as a joke. Cook doesn’t miss a trick, finding every laugh available to him. His comic timing is spot on.
Nicole Rutty’s Liz is a stellar performance showing all of the emotional turmoil of having one of the biggest scoops of all time in her hands and balancing that against the chance to make real changes for good, as well as meeting up with her ex-husband and being torn between stirrings of the love she once had and her revulsion at what he has become.
Tony Busch makes a brief but telling appearance as D. L., drawing all of the threads together in a perfectly timed delivery of his speech. His pauses, accentuations of certain words and phrases, body language and facial expressions, often in direct opposition to what we, the audience know, is exactly right in the closing scene of this political satire.
The set is a wooden framework covered in bubble-wrap, depicting the walls of the Prime Minster’s suite. The combination of this emphasis on transparency, that actually is not very transparent at all, coupled with the flimsiness, is a good descriptor of our political parties and their policies. Corporate grey is the colour of the day, and of everyday, for these faceless men, these ‘talking suits’, the power behind the throne.
This would be even funnier if it was not for the fact that, every so often, it all starts to be a little too much like reality. One can hear phrases and fragments that sound frighteningly like our own current politicians, particularly when the play and the closing speech touch on illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, a hot topic world wide at the moment.
The Mixed Salad team have turned out yet another of their consistently high quality productions and it is well worth an evening out. This is one time when you will not be bored to death by politics and politicians.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide
Mixed Salad has done it again, pulling together a great cast with a great play and ending up with a theatre full of very happy punters.
“Feelgood” is the story of spin in the UK government, but it could apply to any government in any westernised country.
Eddie is the chief media adviser, or spin doctor - to quote a cringeful 1980’s cliché. He’s working with speechwriter Paul on the PM’s speech for the final day of conference, and the speech will be key to the PM’s retention of power.
However, Government Minister George, part of the PM’s old boy’s network, throws a spanner in the works that could bring the whole thing toppling down.
Can Eddie save the day from disaster by persuading a journalist that it’s just not worth printing? Just how far will he go?
Dave Simms is a tour de force as Eddie, maintaining an even keel between bullying and persuading, even while the stakes get higher and higher.
Ben Brooker, as speechwriter Paul, portrays his continual capitulation to Eddie’s demands with an eye on the subtext. While he maintains a façade of rebellion, he always does what Eddie asks, no matter how ridiculous – he’d rather be in the inner circle than out of it, and his protests don’t quite hide the ambitious core.
Paul Davies as Minister George is spot on, reminiscent of ‘Two Jags’ John Prescott, former home secretary in the Blair government. Somewhat bumbling, seemingly benign, he reveals an ultimately selfish streak as an opportunist.
Nicole Rutty grabs the part of Liz and has a ball with it. Ms Rutty portrays the hardened journalist with an opportunity to make a real difference with aplomb. Her doubt about the best way to proceed and then her final decision allows her to display fine acting skills.
Tony Busch as the Prime Minister, DL, is ever the statesman. Obviously enjoying himself, he delivers the PM’s speech in grandiose style, lapping up the admiration of his delegates even as the audience first laughs, then begin to recoil in horror, and delivers a beautiful performance.
Across the entire cast, the standard of performance, understanding of the play and what they need to deliver it entertainingly is of an extremely high standard.
The set by Sally Putnam, Bill Ramsay and Richard Putnam is superb in its design, economy, style and utility, and lighting by Martin Gilbert and Nathan Smith underpins the action beautifully.
Sally Putnam has directed a tight, witty and sharp play. “Feelgood” as a title might be ironic, but the sweetness of delivery tempers the bitterness of the lesson, rather like a very good, very dark, chocolate.
Maggie Wood - Monday 6 June 2011
Alistair Beaton's Feelgood is frighteningly funny political theatre.
And it’s very politically correct about the role spin doctors play in surgically seducing the media, faking free speech and dishing the dirt when it won’t land on them.
Director/designer Sally Putnam’s bubble wrapped set of a seaside hotel suite where the British PM’s speech squad prepares to put words into his mouth, pokes perfect holes in the modern political process.
Dave Simms gives the performance of his career as deadly Eddie, the Shane Warne of Political Spin, who will go to any lengths to kill a story.
Paul Davies beautifully bumbles through as the PM’s genetically mortified crony George, while Ben Brooker excels as the stressed speech writer Paul.
Nicole Rutty is a standout as Eddie’s red ragged ex-wife journo Liz, Lee Cook has the best one-liners as the gag writer Simon, and Philippa Ewens could make even more of the ambitious press secretary Asha.
And Tony Busch makes a triumphant entrance as DL, the duplicitously licentious PM, to show the best ad-libs are always well-rehearsed.
Matt Byrne - Sunday 5 June 2011
© Gallery photos copyright Mixed Salad Productions and David Wilson - PLEASE DO NOT REPRODUCE.
