Given that Cameron, Osborne and indeed Clegg have joined Boris in positions of power, this either proves Laura Wade's flaky, paranoid conspiracy theory or that Posh had absolutely no effect on the electorate - probably the latter judging by the demographic of the audience. Students of all classes and sexes have always spent their university years getting wasted; then they grow up under the pressure of loans, mortgages, jobs and families. For all its faults as a basic premise, Posh is well constructed, brilliantly performed and frequently very funny. However, it should not be taken seriously by anyone other than deluded class warriors like Ed Balls or Michael Coveney - even Michael Billington saw through it. Perhaps we can now look forward to a Royal Court season on the hypocritical venality and corruption of the Blair government or the bullying incompetence of Brown . . . or perhaps not. - David Baxter
22 May 10
Some excellent performances and an unsettling (and slightly overlong) insight into another world that, thankfully, is alien to me. David Dawson's performance is exquisite - Gareth James is spot-on - he's 'one to watch' and I told him so at the Stage Door after the show. If he's not up for a few awards over the next year or so, I'll be amazed. - Andrew B
18 May 10
Great stuff! And even better to see the professional critics backing away from their right wing associations. - coral
30 Apr 10
Very well acted and with a chilling finale... needs cutting in the first act as it does ramble which gives an impressionistic view of the drunkeness which is unlikely to be deliberate!
The singing is very slick and funny ....
We are unsure where the play is going for a large part of it as the satire is not strong and the atmosphere indulgent for the first part... then the play turns on anyone who might think this is simply hooray light comedy.
The publican is a great role and played excellently. His relationship with his daughter is the one humanising element in the play. - sophia hughes
24 Apr 10
Somehow the reviews led me to believe I was in for a raucous satire, so I was very surprised to find this play so disturbing, with a positively chilling final scene. An Oxford University dining society (think Bullingdon Club) is meeting in the private room of an out-of-town gastropub, their penchant for trashing their venues (but paying the full cost, as if this means it’s OK) having been rumbled in the city. The power struggle to depose the current weak president leads to one trying to prove his point by menu choices, another by hiring a prostitute and a third by organising a post-dinner outing to Reykjavik (good timing, there!) in Dad’s private plane. As the evening progresses, wine is consumed, rituals are observed, behaviour declines and underlying attitudes emerge. It’s a very cleverly structured play, because it leaves you to make connections and consider what the consequences of these attitudes are. In my case, it explained much of the arrogance of the last few years where our society has been threatened by people who think they have rights to rule and rights to exploit. This is what was so devastating for me, and the ending - which I won’t reveal - is both chilling and depressing in its believability. The acting is uniformly excellent, with David Dawson - fast becoming the one to watch in his generation – following The Old Vic’s Entertainer, Chichester’s Nicholas Nickleby and Lyric Hammersmith’s Comedians with another terrific performance and Leo Bill a thrillingly vicious toff. Anthony Ward’s extraordinary lifelike set makes you feel like a fly on the wall rather than a member of an audience, but most importantly two young women – playwright Laura Wade and director Lyndsey Turner – have put up a mirror to a small but very real and powerful part of our society in an entertaining but thought-provoking and revealing way without preaching. After Jerusalem and Enron, this feels like the third in a state-of-the-nation/world trilogy and another theatrical feast. - Gareth James
24 Apr 10
Its only merits seem to me to be the claustrophobic staging and the cast of very obviously talented young actors (sadly wasted), but apart from that I struggled to see where the writer was going with it and perhaps she had the same problem too because she does rambled on somewhat and at 2¾ hours it was an even greater struggle maintaining ones concentration. Perhaps, because it's loosely based on the notorious Bullingdon Club the RC felt it would give added relevance to the plot? Several prominent Tories, David Cameron and George Osbourne to name but two, are former members. (Yet another good reason I suppose to vote Lib-Dem). Ha!
- rds
22 Apr 10
I loved every moment of this play - because it attacks the Tories and sends up the stupid club that Dave and George and Boris used to belong to. Yes, I know I should be objective and judge it purely as 'a play' but that would be unfair to the author and the Royal Court who clearly want to embarrass the Opposition, and Good Luck to them. I suspect the low star ratings below are mainly due to the play's politics which is fair enough, but I understand it's a sell-out at the theatre so clearly audiences want to see the Tories trashed, as I do. Surely it will follow Enron and Jerusalem to the West End and deservedly so as it's a play for Our Time. (OK, as a play I'd give it 3 stars but as a phenomenon I give it 5) - Mikey
21 Apr 10
Terrible play - funny occasionally yes, but dramatically and thematically inert. And intellectually lightweight. Characters are broad brush at best and plot is woefully predictable. Ideas aren't explored in any depth.
Would be alright if this sort of immature writing was on at a fringe venue, but the Royal court? Smacks of Emperor's New Clothes.
- John Bridge
20 Apr 10
I thought this was a really entertaining play, very funny and slick. The other 2 reviewers are clearly so up their own political backside they couldn't see the funny side of it. A great night out! - Lynne
19 Apr 10
Poor drama, boring and smug. Wade is either poking fun at this sort of ugly soicety or revealing in it for comice pleasure - however neither motives sit well as a reason to tell this story. This is not a theatre show its a wank. The best thing at the Royal Court in the recent months has been The Empire, if you want a real theatre piece choose this alternative. - Abram
18 Apr 10
'Play of the year' a follow on to other Court hits............no I am sorry it's not!
A rather unpleasant and bland rant at the class system, too arty with only a few good points and those poorly made.
Plus at almost 3 hours plain dull.
Mind you a sell out so the Court have no worries. - james brownlow
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