TONY! – The Tony Blair Rock Opera could only go one way with the writing of Harry Hill. Zany, whacky, madcap and crazy are just some of the words I thought during the evening. This fast-paced show doesn’t pause as it moved swiftly through the life of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair. Opening on his deathbed, we are taken through the main events of his life. From his birth moving onto his first guitar, off to university, joining the labour party and of course becoming the PM. With the first act ending with the death of Princess Diana and the rise of Tony, the second half focuses on his downfall with George W Bush, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.
The comedic use of politics is perfect with Harry Hill’s style, but it’s the lyrics and music from Steve Brown which brilliantly add so much more humour, especially in the second act with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Though it is really the incredibly talented cast which make the show work so well, the characterisations are superb. The highlight is Jack Whittle as Tony Blair with his perfect mannerisms, the grin, the thumbs and the pose. Howard Samuels as Peter Mandelson and Dick Cheney highly devilish. One of my favourites had to be Sally Cheng as Robin Cook – hilarious.
The ensemble is sheer perfection, slick and highly entertaining.
