1979

Finborough Theatre brings Michael Healy’s 2017 political drama 1979 to Europe for the first time. Despite good production and cast, in the current political climate, the story at its centre pales in comparison.

The performance follows the downfall of the progressive conservatives in Canada, led by short lived Prime Minister Joe Clark (Joseph May). The breakdown of the party led to the re-election of the Liberals, and consequently a more right wing conservative lead in Brian Mulroney. However these more significant outcomes of Clark’s actions are lost in the play's focus on his somewhat unremarkable drive to get one final budget through government.

The acting was commendable in most places. Three cast members managed to bring to life an ambitious amount of characters complete with gender switching. The latter was more successful in some parts than others. Whilst Samantha Coughlan pulled off both a convincing office perv and a cold Stephen Harper, Ian Porter didn’t quite manage to realize his female roles, despite the almost comical additions of a pearl necklace and earrings. He depicted his male characters well, including Clark’s rival Trudeau, who he played with suitable smugness.

In any case, the role reversal made for an interesting poke at the sexual harassment rife in this cabinet office, where Ian’s womanly exterior seemed to at least convince Coughlan’s character enough to allow for a pinch on the bottom. Exploring this more difficult topic through a female gaze helped it go down with a giggle.

In fact, the humour went down well in general, providing a successful farce of politicians that felt familiar to the UK despite its focus across the pond. The whole play had a frenetic pace that wouldn’t feel out of place in an Iannuci piece and captured what we can only imagine goes on in Houses of Parliament all over the world. This tempo alongside the actors helped the performance remain engaging despite its tedious storyline.

The story, as tedious as it was in places, was well signposted with help of a projector, where text explained key events, characters and important context to aid understanding. This unsurprisingly didn’t feel jarring and was necessary for untangling this otherwise complicated tale. It even got some good laughs, unexpectedly making witty observations about the characters, or breaking the fourth wall.

Despite its faults, this play has moments of intrigue and laughter, all in a beautifully crafted set by Mim Houghton. If anything it is nice to pretend, just for the hour and thirty minute run time, that our own politics are as uneventful.

You can catch 1979 at the Finborough until the 27th of January.


Photo credit: Simon Annand