Difference between revisions of "Whipping it Up (2011)"
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by [[Terry Johnson]] | by [[Terry Johnson]] | ||
| − | Directed by [[ | + | Directed by [[Caroline Doyle]] |
| − | Performances: Tue | + | Performances: Tue 3rd to Saturday 7th May [[2011]], [[Bell Theatre]] |
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== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
| + | ALASTAIR – Playing age forty-five, Deputy Chief Whip for the Government. Alistair is described in the play as “an immaculate, tanned reptile in a grey flannel suit. He owns the space.” I see him as supremely self-confident without conceit. A player, he radiates calm. He knows what he’s doing and where he is all the time. Except, perhaps, where Delia’s concerned. | ||
| − | + | GUY – Playing age thirty-six, Backbench Government MP Described as a having “a fizzy mixture of eagerness and nerves” on entering the Whips’ office. Guy works hard as an MP. He is a small fish in a big pond and about to find out that he’s swimming with sharks. | |
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| − | + | TIM – Playing age thirty-four, Junior Whip for the Government Described as “an attractive young man in a razor-sharp suit. He has a strong London accent and a streetwise confidence.” He’s a bit of a lad. Fast-talking, hard-dealing. His dad is an extremely wealthy self-made man, a working class Tory and Tim’s been encouraged into politics. But is he there because it’s a foot on the ladder of power or does he really care about the Party above all else? | |
| + | |||
| + | MAGGIE – Playing age twenty-seven, researcher for the Government Described as “a petite young woman in a formal skirt and blouse with a commons ID card that says ‘Government Researcher’. Her skirt is rather too short for it to be accidental….she has a curiously girlie voice.” Is Maggie the leverage that the Whips’ office need? With her sweet voice and short skirt, is she just Tory eye-candy or is there a brain working overtime in that pretty little head? | ||
| + | |||
| + | THE CHIEF – Playing age sixty-five, Chief Whip for the Government When we first meet the Chief he’s sitting nodding gently with a tumbler of whisky in his hand, still wearing the Santa suit but without the wig and beard. He is a man who eats and drinks too well and has been exposed to the stress of Government and Opposition for a long time now. His loyalty to the Party is unswerving, and he’ll stop at nothing to protect it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | DELIA – forty-three, Deputy Chief Whip for the Opposition. Described as “an attractive English rose in her early forties. She is dynamic and smart in a navy suit. Her voice is like cold steel.” Whilst I’m not in the least bit worried about the “English rose” description, Delia has to be powerful. A strong woman doing a job in a traditionally patriarchal situation where dirty tricks are the norm and no holds are barred. | ||
== Crew == | == Crew == | ||
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*'''[http://www.someplace.com/thisplay This play on the web] | *'''[http://www.someplace.com/thisplay This play on the web] | ||
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[[Category:Productions]] | [[Category:Productions]] | ||
[[Category:Bell Theatre Productions]] | [[Category:Bell Theatre Productions]] | ||
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Revision as of 10:02, 22 December 2010
Directed by Caroline Doyle
Performances: Tue 3rd to Saturday 7th May 2011, Bell Theatre
Contents
Introduction
Whipping It Up is set in the Conservative Whips' office on a night when the party is desperate to protect a majority of only three from a potential defeat in a debate about the benefits of taxing gypsies and boy scouts. The prospective revolt is the start of a coup from within their own party, although Labour are happy to help out.
We are initially introduced to the unscrupulous pair of Alastair and Tim. They are in the process of persuading a gay tyro that a wrong vote so early in his career would be unwise. In time honoured fashion, their main weapons are bullying and bribery.
Having set the scene, the play instantly takes off with the arrival of Victor Meldrew dressed as Santa. This crotchety, unnamed Chief Whip has a great knack of coming up with pithy if incredibly foul comments about a wide range of subjects starting with beetroot and the attractions of little girls.
The plot thickens (at least a touch) with the arrival of blonde with few clothes and seemingly set on blackmail even before we discover that she is, of all things, an investigative journalist. The only surprise, given her modus operandi is that she represents The Observer rather than the News of the World.
Just when the silliness threatens to get out of hand, the opposition whip, brings some necessary gravitas and competitiveness, as the parties vie in a kind of dirtiest trick competition.
The build up to the big vote with 70 opposition members off having a Christmas dinner with a trade union and the PM delayed in the States.
Whipping It Up is a play about politicking far more than politics.
Cast
ALASTAIR – Playing age forty-five, Deputy Chief Whip for the Government. Alistair is described in the play as “an immaculate, tanned reptile in a grey flannel suit. He owns the space.” I see him as supremely self-confident without conceit. A player, he radiates calm. He knows what he’s doing and where he is all the time. Except, perhaps, where Delia’s concerned.
GUY – Playing age thirty-six, Backbench Government MP Described as a having “a fizzy mixture of eagerness and nerves” on entering the Whips’ office. Guy works hard as an MP. He is a small fish in a big pond and about to find out that he’s swimming with sharks.
TIM – Playing age thirty-four, Junior Whip for the Government Described as “an attractive young man in a razor-sharp suit. He has a strong London accent and a streetwise confidence.” He’s a bit of a lad. Fast-talking, hard-dealing. His dad is an extremely wealthy self-made man, a working class Tory and Tim’s been encouraged into politics. But is he there because it’s a foot on the ladder of power or does he really care about the Party above all else?
MAGGIE – Playing age twenty-seven, researcher for the Government Described as “a petite young woman in a formal skirt and blouse with a commons ID card that says ‘Government Researcher’. Her skirt is rather too short for it to be accidental….she has a curiously girlie voice.” Is Maggie the leverage that the Whips’ office need? With her sweet voice and short skirt, is she just Tory eye-candy or is there a brain working overtime in that pretty little head?
THE CHIEF – Playing age sixty-five, Chief Whip for the Government When we first meet the Chief he’s sitting nodding gently with a tumbler of whisky in his hand, still wearing the Santa suit but without the wig and beard. He is a man who eats and drinks too well and has been exposed to the stress of Government and Opposition for a long time now. His loyalty to the Party is unswerving, and he’ll stop at nothing to protect it.
DELIA – forty-three, Deputy Chief Whip for the Opposition. Described as “an attractive English rose in her early forties. She is dynamic and smart in a navy suit. Her voice is like cold steel.” Whilst I’m not in the least bit worried about the “English rose” description, Delia has to be powerful. A strong woman doing a job in a traditionally patriarchal situation where dirty tricks are the norm and no holds are barred.
Crew
- Stage Manager - SM Name
- Lighting Design - Designer Name
- Lighting Operator - Operator Name
Reviews
Some review quotes go here
Gallery
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.
See Also
Have there been other SLT productions of this play? Link to them here.
Or add anything that is related within this site. The author's page for instance or other plays with a similar theme.
References
<references/>
