Yes, Prime Minister (Tour – Oxford)

I was a fan of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister from their very first outings on the BBC. I watched the shows, listened to the radio versions, bought the books. I can still remember some episodes line-for-line. Consequently I approached the stage adaptation with a mixed of dread and delight.

Unfortunately my worst fears were realised.

Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn are talented screenwriters. They thrive in the compact form of a short episode. Given the need to fill two hours of stage time, they seem to have somewhat lost their way. The plotting is nowhere as tight as episodes such as ‘Party Games’ or ‘The Key’ – there each element was carefully considered and played to perfection. Here we seem to get a number of under-developed ideas and plots that run out of steam without reaching a proper climax.

Of course the original series was blessed with one of the best casts in television history. And it is hard to get Nigel Hawthorne and Paul Eddington out of your mind. This cast, unfortunately, can do nothing to displace the memories of their illustrious forebears.

There is an considerable amount of ham acting and mugging to the audience on display and that I find almost unforgiveable from a team of professional actors.

All I am left with is the impression of the over-acting of an under-written script – an unpleasant combination. That said, the near capacity audience were lapping it up – so perhaps they can more easily set aside their fond memories of the original.