The ladies are not for turning. Clare Holman (Liz), Stella Gonet (Thatcher), Marion Bailey (Queen), Fenella Woolgar (Mags). Photograph by Tristram Kenton
Play: Handbagged
Theatre: Tricycle Theatre
Playwright: Moira Buffini
Review by Natalie Gormally
Moira Buffini’s extended version of her original 2010 play Handbagged offers up a witty, educational and reflective take on both the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher, and the events that took place over the ‘Iron Lady’s’ 11 years in power.
Four actresses play the roles of a younger and older Queen and Thatcher. Clare Holman and Fenella Woolgar hold their own as the relatively youthful ‘Liz’ and ‘Mags’ respectively, while Marion Bailey and Stella Gonet, as the older Queen and Thatcher are meticulous in their vocal inflections and physical mannerisms. This format plays out well, adding to the depth of the narrative as the characters converse, both with themselves and each other, revealing their private thoughts, emotions and intent.
During the 1980s, these were two of the most powerful in the world, yet history suggests that the relationship between the two of them was, to say the least, tense. Buffini characterises the Queen as a dry centralist figure, frustrated with a constitution which restricts overt royal influence over government policy, while her prime minister, in contrast, is defiantly tough and divisive, with a tendency to lecture rather than discuss and readily dismisses those whose views she doesn’t favour: “What does your opinion count for here,” she says, belittling the observations of a character involved in the miners’ strikes.
We are subject to no less than 21 characters played by six actors, touching on all the key events from Thatcher’s time in the PM’s seat – from the more familiar stories of the race riots, poll tax demos, Falkland invasion, numerous IRA assassination attempts and the miners’ strike through to questionable episodes in Zimbabwe, Libya and South Africa.
The two supporting cast – Neet Mohan and Jeff Rawle – display great acting versatility, showcasing 17 characters between them, including Rawle as Denis Thatcher, Ronald Reagen and Gerry Adams and Neet playing Neil Kinnock, Kenneth Clark and Nancy Reagan.
While the overall effect is one of humour, both Neet and Rawle remove the fourth wall – a regular approach throughout the play – to address the audience with their emotional and stark reminders of the human devastation some of these political events caused: “Whole communities lost their work. It was a tragedy; it was heart-breaking,” says Rawle, coming out of character to describe of the closure of the coal mines in 1983.
Many social commentators inevitably compared Thatcher and the Queen. Yet despite the fact that they acknowledge “we are the same age, of the same era, formed in the war,” Thatcher saw them as very different. “I had worked so hard for my achievements; her Majesty’s were birth rights.” But despite their tensions, the disparity in their ideologies and their pathways to power, Buffini’s narrative suggests these two ladies respected each other, particularly in the later years when a dismayed Thatcher is ousted by her own party.
There is always lot to say when portraying Thatcher’s reign. Under Indhu Rubasingham’s confident direction the play succeeds in ensuring that Thatcher doesn’t dominate and each cast member gets the chance to shine. None of the female leads succumb to the obvious temptation to ‘ham’ up their characters, while Neet and Rawle navigate their diverse range of characters and interpretations wonderfully. Also Richard Kent and Oliver Fenwick’s Union Jack laden stage designs provide a suitably patriotic backdrop.
Handbagged is a delightful, entertaining, funny, political and yet emotional play that encapsulates a defining and memorable decade with its two most symbolic female figureheads.
Handbagged is at the Tricycle Theatre until 16 November 2013.