Not all TV shows and films spin off well onto the stage. But
Yes, Prime Minister is just as hilarious on stage as it was on
TV.
Part of the successful transfer must be due to the play being written by the same team responsible for the show, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. And part of the success of the 'translation' to stage is probably due to the relatively simple and static direction of the TV show: it was almost theatre to begin with, relying heavily on the wit of the dialogue and the brilliant comic timing of the actors.
While this play stars the same Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard, of course the
actors are different. Richard McCabe plays the PM, Simon Williams plays Sir Humphrey, the Cabinet Secretary and Chris Larkin plays Bernard Woolley, the PM's Principal Private Secretary.
Just like the TV series of the late 70s and early 80s, this instalment of the story sees the PM staring disaster in the face. Though in the play we're fast forwarded to the current day, and this time the crisis is an economic one, the government is a coalition one, dossiers have been sexed up and now the PM and co. have to deal with professional 'spin' as well as all their concerns from the 80s. The only way out seems to be a dubious deal done with the Foreign Minister of Kumranistan, but is that morally the right thing to do? Poor Jim must weigh up the conflicting interests, and with the help of his advisory team, untangle the situation to a point where everyone can move forward, and Sir Humphrey utters those immortal, acquiescing words, "Yes, Prime Minister.".
But they managed it so many times in the past, and with style and great humour, so it's likely that this political 'A' team will manage to scrape though again. Not without comedy results though.
