one4review | On 20, Aug 2023

This must have been a labour of love for Harry Hill and Steve Brown, (sorry but it had to be said) as they put together this fabulous musical comedy about Tony Blair.

The story starts with Tony lying on his deathbed calling out for Cherie. A priest is called to give his final confession that results in him rewinding back to his past. There’s a brilliant song and dance performance from the cast, who are dressed in suits and red ties that gives the show a Rocky Horror feel to it.

We are taken back in time to when Tony was a long haired peace loving hippy who had ambitions to be a rockstar like his idol Mick Jagger (many references are made about this throughout the performance). Going to university he meets Cherie. There is a hilarious tango performance as Cherie seduces him and succeeds in getting him to become a member of the labour party.

The cast provides a brilliant larger than life portrayal of cabinet ministers, the US president George W Bush, Diana, Princess of Wales, Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein as we are taken through the good, the bad and the ugly of the political landscape of this time.

There’s Gordon Brown, the ambitious Prime Minister in the waiting where a hilarious leadership competition is played out in a Boxing ring (a winning smile vs economic policy). Peter Mandelson, with props included, making politics groovy, salsa dancing with Diana the Princess of Wales and Saddam Hussein in his military outfit singing I’ve Never Done Anything Wrong.

The cast and the band deliver an outstanding performance. Singing is amazing and the lyrics are brilliantly funny. A great ending as the cast sang a song that sums up the world’s global leaders. I would recommend this highly entertaining show.

4.5****
Reviewed by Lynn

Pleasance at EICC (Pentland Theatre 2nd – 27th (except 7th14th,21st)