There’s lots to say about Tony Blair and his time as Prime Minister, but the show ‘Tony! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera’] has lots to say, and it’s all very funny and hilarious!
Now playing at the Leicester Square Theatre until May 21st, and written by Comedian Harry Hill and Steve Brown, the show takes us through the life of Blair, when he was a child born in Edinburgh, Scotland and how he didn’t have to work very hard in life to get to where he wound up, as Prime Minister (from 1997 to 2007). Jack Whittle is absolutely brilliant as Blair, both as a child and then growing up through to his years as a lawyer, politician, and up to now being a very very rich and well paid speaker. But it’s the second act that takes this satire to a new level when the UK became involved in the ‘War on Terror’ at the behest of George Bush and the U.S. government. You will be laughing out loud (LOL) to songs sung by the cast which include ‘Kill The Infidel,’ ‘Bombs Away’ and, in the first act ‘I’m Gonna be Somebody.’ And a whole raft of the cast of characters that were involved in Blair’s life also make an appearance: John Prescott, Alastair Campbell, David Blunkett, and also his wife Cherie Blair. Meanwhile Princess Diana (Emma Jay Thomas) and her death are satired in the show in a moment where it was going to be either do or die for Blair which would make, or break his premiership. And we all know how that turned out. Yes, even Osama Bin Laden makes an appearance.
Besides Whittle, the hardworking cast (who are superb) includes Howard Samuels (Peter Mandelson), Tori Burgess (Cherie Blair), Phil Sealey (perfect as Gordon Brown) among others who entertain us through song, antics, and just plain funniness to help us get through, via laughing really hard, the life and times of Tony Blair, a show that is eerily spot on!
Hopefully the same team can come up with a take on Boris Johnson, there will lots of funny material there!
www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/tony-the-tony-blair-rock-opera/