I'm Sorry, Prime Minister Review: Hacker and Sir Humphrey Return as Baffled but Charming Old Codgers
At London's Apollo theatre, Jonathan Lynn's elegiac swansong for the beloved parliamentary sitcom Yes, Prime Minister brings back the iconic duo in a new light. Griff Rhys Jones stars as ex-Prime Minister Jim Hacker, while Clive Francis takes on the role of the wily Sir Humphrey Appleby in I'm Sorry, Prime Minister, a production that explores the twilight years of these political legends.
A Farewell to the Corridors of Power
Directed by Lynn alongside Michael Gyngell, this play first staged in 2023 at the Barn in Cirencester, delves into the lives of Hacker and Sir Humphrey after their exile from the corridors of power. Hacker, now master of an Oxford college, faces expulsion by students angered by his affronts against woke orthodoxy, prompting one last call to his old consigliere. Sir Humphrey, condemned to a care home by his daughter-in-law, represents a poignant fall from grace, though the show focuses more on wit than deep emotion.
Witty Discourse and Urban Charm
The production majors in urbane wit and the illicit thrill of hearing old codgers say inappropriate things, rather than dramatic incident. At its core, it's a vehicle for Lynn and his characters to discourse on modern topics like trigger warnings and safe spaces, though not always with great insight. Stephanie Levi-John delivers a spirited performance as Sophie, Hacker's care worker, constantly correcting her elders' improprieties.
Performances That Shine
Rhys Jones and Francis are a treat, with the former blithering and pompous, and the latter a delicious mixture of vulnerability and shrewdness. Francis's Sir Humphrey is frail enough to try a stairlift, yet retains his skill for filibustering prolixity. Their low-stakes predicament involves batting conversational gambits back and forth, such as "Humphrey, why were you so keen on austerity?" but Lynn's perspective on age and irrelevance is arresting.
Final Thoughts
I'm Sorry, Prime Minister offers a charming company of characters, examining the mighty once they have fallen with levelling effects. Running at the Apollo theatre in London until 9 May, it's a must-see for fans of the original sitcom and those interested in a witty take on political legacy and aging.
