Dominic Cummings in the spotlight
Until Tuesday April 22
DOM The Play Theatre Royal Windsor
A must-see comedy following the travails and travels of Dominic Cummings is bringing some very recent history to the stage.
Its author, Lloyd Evans, has been reviewing plays for the Spectator since 2003 and became their parliamentary sketch-writer in 2007.
He explained how Dom the Play began life in a room above a pub in south London before transfers to bigger venues including Windsor at the invitation of Bill Kenwright, owner of the Theatre Royal.
Lloyd said: “Audiences came to the show expecting a hit-job on Dominic Cummings. But the play, which I wrote and co-produced, aims to be politically impartial and to highlight the characters’ virtues as well as their flaws. Spectators can make up their own minds.”
The play covers the chief political events of the last decade, including the divisive Brexit campaign, the exhausting aftermath under Theresa May, and the chaotic premiership of Boris Johnson – which ended abruptly during rehearsals last July – leading to several last-minute re-writes”
“Windsor has numerous connections with the play’s personalities,” Lloyd added.
“Two former prime ministers, Boris and David Cameron were educated at Eton College. On stage we portray Cameron as a decent, bumbling charmer who stakes his career on the referendum result and loses. Boris’s exuberant circus-act works very well in front of a live audience because he is essentially a self-created parody of a politician.
“Another ex-PM, Theresa May, represents the constituency of Maidenhead nearby, and she appears in a brief cameo role that audiences seem to love.
“We simply re-enact her bizarre Abba-themed entrance to the Tory party conference in 2018. With hindsight, Mrs May playing the disco diva seems wildly satirical but that’s how she chose to present herself.”
Other famous Windsor residents, the royal family, are treated to some gentle ribbing.
“The late Queen frets about her favourite grandson, Harry, and asks Boris to show her the latest MI6 report from California. ‘The prince continues to be treated humanely by his captors,’ reads Boris. ‘He gets regular exercise and he’s allowed to attend the occasional business meeting, provided he keeps his mouth shut.’ Prince Andrew sympathises with Harry and denounces the Duchess of Sussex as ‘another American gold-digger.’ And we invented a scene in which Harry’s future job prospects are discussed by Dom and Boris.
“The cynical Dom complains that Harry has no skills whatever. ‘He can’t even shave.’ But his lack of ability may help him if he joins the diplomatic service. ‘The Foreign Office, yes,’ enthuses Boris. ‘Perfect for a half-wit with a posh accent.’
“In London, some audience members told me I’d let the royals off far too lightly but I have no agenda to push The show is a frothy light-hearted amusement rather than an anti-establishment rant.
“Our hope is that Edward and Sophie, who are regular customers at the Theatre Royal, will show up to see their family being affectionately lampooned.”