The first slot of the first season of the drama society’s (UMDS’) shows is certainly a high-pressure one, but The Candidates manages to smash all expectations with a comically relevant political satire. Writer Harry Petts, director Dan Greenwood, and assistant director Aryaa Chakraborty have created a world close to our own, with characters that feel like they might have stepped out of a political debate on our TV screens. This feeling of reality is compounded by the meta-audience role, as we the theatre audience are used as the live TV studio audience: clapping and laughing when instructed by an autocue.
The story follows a televised debate between the candidates in a parliamentary by-election in Chorley, and builds in the questioning and interrogations of the characters as they are faced with different secrets being exposed. The host – Brett Emery Sabbath-Darling (Joe Noble) – becomes increasingly frustrated with the politicians as the show goes on, especially as the candidates explode into arguments and confrontations over each other’s policies and personal lives.
The three standing for the major parties are a worryingly realistic caricature of Reform, Green, and Labour politicians, while Millie Hampson-May plays the level-headed and knowledgeable independent candidate, Leo Wilson, who is overlooked by the older politicians and the arrogant host. Wilson seems to be the perfect answer to the other tarnished politicians who are unclear on their policies and disconnected from the people in the constituency. It’s a scene that encourages the audience to reflect on our own politicians and the state of our political options.
During the debate, Joe Moore stands out as Steve Ollenshaw: the overly posh and overly confident Labour Party candidate. Ollenshaw, once the Conservative Home Secretary now a Labour MP, appears to have not changed his views at all and – disconnected from the people of his constituency – struggles to answer the questions being thrown at him.
In contrast, the relationship between Reform’s Verity Bateman (Ruby Coyte) and the Greens’ Elle Pritchard (Hattie Wood) evolves from a tense rivalry between the opposing parties to a sweet, caring one. Both actors play their roles brilliantly: Coyte, the misinformed, question-dodging reactionary, and Wood, the overly sensitive, tunnel-vision environmentalist. In the end, when Pritchard is effectively outed on television, it is Bateman who comes to comfort her, creating an odd dynamic between the two polar-opposite candidates.
Another relationship that shines through in the show is the one between Darling, the erratic host, and Danny, the showrunner (played by Daniel Baffoe.) Baffoe captures the chaotic nature of a showrunner perfectly, coming in to inform and be bossed around by Darling, who clearly relies on him for a smooth show. Danny brings perfect, reasoned interjections to the chaos of Darling and the arguments of the show and the two bounce off each other to create a juxtaposing comedic satire.
In The Candidates, the ensemble cast is able to work together in presenting the comedic dynamics of the politicians through their different views and personalities. Designer Connie Morris’s simplistic set, featuring a blank background and elevated chairs, creates a flawless television studio, allowing the audience to feel as though we are part of the action of the play. The actors are able to shine through as distinct individuals, each with their own motivations in the debate within the play. Every moment is calculated to work off of each other, and whether it is the over-dramatic Ollenshaw or the informed rebuttals of Wilson, there is satire and critique to be found throughout.
Over the course of the hour-long play, it is revealed that each politician has secrets of their own, adding another layer of tension to the debate. From Darling’s incriminating photo with a sex doll resembling Ann Widdecombe, to Bateman’s empire of rented properties; Pritchard’s sexuality, or Ollenshaw’s affair, there are heightened stakes for each. Except Wilson, it would seem.
This adds to the ideal nature of Wilson’s candidacy but also leaves both Darling and the audience wondering what she could have done, as surely there is a scandal to go with every politician.
At the crescendo of the play, the candidates crack and use each other’s secrets against each other, bringing each other down. This only helps Wilson, as they are unable to bring her down with scandal. However, at the end, Wilson reveals – after solidifying her position as the ideal candidate – that she slept with her history teacher, providing a satisfying comedic ending that reminds the audience that no politician is free from scandal.
I found myself laughing throughout the entire play, captivated by the tension of the scandals and the dynamics between the candidates. The show was the perfect start to the UMDS Autumn Fringe, entertaining the audience and leaving them hungry for more. The Candidates left big shoes to fill for the remainder of the season.
