Photos: Leslie Black
The Biscuit is more romping farce than the incisive satire it could be. A custard cream, if you will, rather than Borders chocolate ginger. Written by Donald Mcleary and directed by Kate Brailsford, it trades in the old ‘stereotypes stuck together’ schtick.
Starring Stephen Clyde as Ellis, the ineffectual Tory prime minister, who’s a soupçon of Tony Blair, but a whole load of David Cameron, Mcleary’s script nails the faux humble qualities of both ex -leaders, the ‘all things to all people’ approach. Of course, Ellis is a patronising little child man.
His equally posh and outspoken wife, health secretary Sam (Shonagh Price) is, on the surface, his soul mate, but cracks are showing.
When they are stuck in the cupboard, it’s cleaner Colin (Paul Thomas-Clark) who must, with his bluff but affable ways, punctuate their pomposity and teach them to empathise with ordinary people. Can he get them out of there? Armed with only a single Wagon Wheel biscuit, Colin is, predictably, salt of the earth, decent enough, if rather inarticulate.
In spite of all these attendant clichés, the fine trio are immensely watchable. But it doesn’t sustain the hour running time, and like Ellis’s empty rhetoric, it rather grates.
Still, there are some good zingers, and most of the jokes land. Not entirely memorable, but it’s well-meaning enough fare.
Until Saturday, 3rd November,Oran Mor
thetempohouse 