The Illustrious Corpse
From: Monday, 8th September 2003
To: Saturday, 27 September 2003
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Synopsis
A biting new political satire about murder in high places, political marriage and party loyalty. The Home Secretary lies dead on his sofa and his wife Desdemona admits to murdering him. But just why did she kill him and why confess to the crime? Sir Richard Everall of the Scotland Yard wants to cover up and avoid another embarrassing scandal for the Government. But Desdemona is adamant - she wants everyone to know why she murdered The Illustrious Corpse...
Our Review:
11 September 2003
NOTE: The following review dates from June 2003 and this production's original season at the Leicester Haymarket.
As the Government continues to be raked over the coals over its "dodgy dossier" reasoning for going to war with Iraq earlier this year, the latest play from writer, historian, broadcaster and confirmed dissident Tariq Ali could hardly be more topical.
The Illustrious Corpse centres on the wife of the murdered Home Secretary, who admits to killing her husband and wants her day in court to explain why. Like so many voters, Dr Jones, it transpires, is disgusted at her husband's transformation from activist to conformist, seeing his rise to a knighthood and acceptance of a Government post as treachery. And so, over 100 overly long minutes, the play explains the dissolution of the couple's relationship and her motivation for murder.
Along the way, Ali inserts his decidedly left-wing take on various issues - likening secure are...
Latest User Review
USER: Whatsonstage.com (82.35.62.168) - 15 September 2003:
No great performances from the cast of 4, the ‘story’ (or cover) tells of the Black First Home Secretary (portrayed by Trevor Thomas) and comfortable middle class white Doctor wife (buys fair trade natch) (played by Kristin Milward), who kills him because he is simply a devilish New Labour chap who just loves to wallow in war. The beautiful Special Advisor (Beverly Longhurst) turns up and so does the Metropolitan Police Commissioner (Russell Dixon) to hush things up (and more like a bluff Major in a 1950’s film). Poor plot even if you are a trot, and actors who make no real impression either way. Mr Ali would have done better to write a plain sex farce for an end of the pier show. ...
Creative
Tariq Ali (Author)
Leicester Haymarket Theatre (Company)
Iqbal Khan (Director)
Kate Unwin (Design)
Miriam Spencer (Lighting)
Ben Harrison (Sound)
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