Scandal is such sweet pleasure!
AWEEK is a long time in politics. Harold Wilson’s famous quote was said in the run-up to the 1964 General Election, only months after the events that inspired the next SDC play, Letter Of Resignation.
Happily, a week is not a long time to wait to see the show.
Hugh Whitemore’s thoughtful and engaging play is set in a Scottish castle.
Harold Macmillan and his wife, Lady Dorothy, are staying for the weekend.
Macmillan’s long standing private secretary, Oliver Widdowes, has made a special journey to inform the Prime Minister that minister John Profumo has just resigned after admitting lying to parliament about his affair with Christine Keeler.
They are also joined by Ian Ritchie, a young MI5 officer sent to brief the PM on the role the security services had played behind the scenes.
As the story develops, Whitemore parallels the breaking scandal with the torment at the heart of Macmillan’s own romantic life.
It was an open secret that Lady Dorothy was not faithful to him, enveloped in a longstanding affair with another man.
It is for this reason Macmillan finds the episode, steeped in sexual betrayal, so painful.
This is a fictional account. Only Macmillan and his wife are real characters and the weekend setting has been invented as a vehicle for Whitemore, a prolific and successful writer for both stage and film, to explore the moral and personal dimensions of a political crisis.
Robin Hirsch, one of the finest and most accomplished directors at The Little, has been fortunate to attract a strong cast with which to tell the tale.
John Sharp is Macmillan and, avoiding the trap of simple mimicry, he skilfully captures his old Edwardian grandeur; a great raconteur.
John also reveals his vulnerabilities and glimpses into his cutting, ruthless political mind.
Lady Dorothy is played by Carole Chessell.
Carole presents her as an extremely personable and passionate character who, at the same time, exudes all the class and sophistication of her aristocratic background.
Mike Stowell plays Widdowes, a man of similar age and class to the Prime Minster. Mike expertly portrays Wid- dowes as both Macmillan’s gentle servant and friend as he walks him through the background to the debacle at the War Office.
Diane Mackley has a lovely little cameo as Mrs Brennan, the housekeeper.
And finally the part of Ian Ritchie is played by, well, me!
Ritchie represents the new. He is driven, ambitious and slightly disdainful of Macmillan and Widdowes; a counterpoint to the old guard and historical surroundings.
It is a pleasure to perform with John, Mike, Carole and Diane – four incredibly gifted and experienced actors – and also to be working with Robin and assistant director Adrienne Ledson.
You are always learning and developing as a performer – sharing a stage in this company is a real masterclass.
Letter Of Resignation runs from February 23 to March 3. Ring our box office – 01704 530521/530460, see littletheatresouthport.co.uk or follow us on Facebook /SouthportLittleTheatre.