Edinburgh Fringe Review: Dom The Play
Assembly Rooms, George Street ⭐️⭐️
When a writer ‘prefers to remain anonymous’ the inference could be taken that they’ve done so for the obvious reason - their work is not up scratch.
Or equally, it could be supposed a publicity stunt. Hype. A tease to fuel speculation into the identity of the mystery playwright. Could possibly be… nah!
Dom The Play could have another motivation, playing Edinburgh, this pro-Brexit piece is not exactly pro-Scotland, but then it’s also a play that attempts to vindicate two of the most publicly reviled characters of recent years - Boris Johnson and his Vote Leave guru and senior Downing Street adviser, Dominic Cummings.
Bizarrely, it’s described as ‘a gossipy topical comedy’ but laughs are scant and it treads already well trod territory as it explores Cummings’ mission to ‘revolutionise government’, certainly no laughing matter.
In essence, what unfolds is a 75 minute illustrated lecture from Cummings, played by Chris Porter with a snidely arrogant, detached air, which occasionally veers into the hectoring.
Providing the illustrative elements, Fringe veteran Thom Tuck, as The Man, flits between embodying Farage, Obama, Beckham and others, while Sarah Lawrie as The Woman inhabits the Queen, Nicola Sturgeon and many others.
Still, it’s a fairly staid affair heightened only by Tim Hudson’s brilliant take on Boris. Hudson exudes the inexplicable sweaty charm and ruddy bumptiousness of his prime ministerial subject. It’s a performance that, grotesque as it is, proves totally compelling.
As a satirical look at the recent failings of government there’s nothing really new to see here, while an ill-conceived gag referencing the Scottish people removing ‘the needles from their arms long enough to…’ is a definite low, a cheap laugh that polarises this Edinburgh Fringe audience.
But does anyone really care about the excuses of the tabloid’s panto-villain who drove to Barnard Castle? Or for the thought-processes that drove his behaviour? And, other than his apologists, does anyone really see him as a victim? Certainly the walk outs mid-show didn’t.
Bizarrely, if you want a four or five star review of Dom, there are a few around, but surely I can’t be the only one to find this a soulless, contrived and tactless waste of time.
Until August 27, 5.20pm
Credit: Líam Rudden Media