Limehouse
Donmar Warehouse, March 25, 2017
Limehouse is the story of the day in 1981 that the “gang of four” agreed to leave the Labour party and create the SDP. It’s perfect timing for this play. A time of an imploding Labour party being dragged to the far left with a weakened leader and policies that many core voters don’t recognise or understand (not opposing Brexit being top of my list).
Set in David and Debbie Owen’s Limehouse kitchen, eating a brunch inspired by Delia (she was new then) and sipping vintage Chateau Lafitte the SDP is created. Unhappy with a Labour party that was tearing itself apart, lead by an ineffective Michael Foot and being overrun by the far left, these four believed it was time to be decisive and go it alone.
David Owen is played as feisty and ambitious by Tom Goodman Hill on excellent form. He’s portrayed as the least likeable of the group as he zealously rallies them to make the decision to leave.
Shirley Williams played by Debra Gillet comes across as a fragile, velvet glove with the iron fist. She won’t be bought or wooed but does seem a little overly flattered by press attention. I loved the discussions of how they wanted her to be leader and go toe to toe with Thatcher (who had come to power 2 years earlier). I don’t understand why she never took the leadership. She’d have been brilliant. And that could’ve changed everything.
Roy Jenkins a magnificent Roger Allam — oh how I love this man. Jenkins is the “relic” back from Europe who is steeped in Labour history but who never truly recognised himself in the party.
Bill Rodgers played by Paul Chahidi is the emotional heart. He’s dismissed as Roy’s poodle and he’s the one that both David and Shirley try to manipulate to go with them so they aren’t alone in their stance. He’s the funny one too as he delivers his version of the manifesto on his back or doing yoga stretches.
And then the mediator, the one who gets them to understand there’s more holding them together than seperating them is Debbie Owen played by Nathalie Armin. She gets the last lines of the play. The powerful what ifs.
For me, this shows how history really does repeat itself. It’s mention of ineffectual opposition leadership, a seemingly unopposed female PM and european referendums had the audience tittering but this is happening… This is our now.
So who is the new gang of four?
5/5 Superb character acting portraying our continuing political turmoil.
