For any fans of the TV show Yes Minister, there’s a new final chapter for the story. Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey are back in this new stage production. Here’s my ‘I’m Sorry Prime Minister I can’t Quite Remember’ theatre review.
Overview of I’m Sorry Prime Minister
‘I’m Sorry Prime Minister I can’t Quite Remember’ is a new, original stage show from the same writers as the famous TV show. My ‘I’m Sorry Prime Minister I can’t Quite Remember’ theatre review is fairly mixed, and I didn’t think the stage show quite matched the original TV show.
I’m Sorry Prime Minister follows the story of two of the most famous characters from the famous 1980s TV show. Jim Hacker is an ex Prime Minister, and Sir Humphrey Appleby an ex civil servant). This stage production picks up their story when both men are old and nearing, or past retirement. Jim Hacker is Master of a new Oxford College, but the college wants him to step down as Master after he offended people in his speeches. He calls on Sir Humphrey to come to help, so the two characters reunite.
There’s also a new character in this stage production – a young woman called Sophie. Sophie is employed as Jim Hacker’s care worker, and frequently challenges him with her more modern, open views.
The show follows the story of Jim Hacker as he tries to cling onto his position as Master of the college.
What I liked about I’m Sorry Prime Minister
I really enjoyed the TV show of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, so I was looking forward to seeing this production. I didn’t actually see this TV show when it was originally on – I saw it about 20 years later, as a politics student. But I loved how so many of the political issues and themes from the 1980s were exactly the same 20 years later.
The stage production of I’m Sorry Prime Minister retains many of the factors that I enjoyed about the TV show. It references key political issues, such as Brexit, and links it back to the famous ‘Euro Sausage’ episode of Yes Minister. And Sir Humphrey has several impressive, long and rambling speeches, which are always amusing. And the actor playing Sir Humphrey did well to deliver these speeches.
The story is easy to follow, and it’s a fun, relaxing way to spend an evening at the theatre.
What I wasn’t so sure about
Although I enjoyed some aspects of this I’m Sorry Prime Minister, I didn’t love it. For anyone who doesn’t have fond memories of the original TV show, I’m not sure the show would have much impact.
Wokeness
My biggest issue with the show was the choice to make the main political theme of the show all about political correctness, or ‘wokeness’ as they called it. I understand that’s a big issue in politics today – but I’m not sure this show should have tried to deal with it. The young care worker, Sophie, is vocal about being left-wing, a lesbian, and black, and dismissive of her Oxford University education. She clashes with the two older men, who have much more outdated views. However, I didn’t feel like this debate was done brilliantly. Sophie frequently came across as quite angry, confrontational and unwilling to listen to another point of view. And the two men came across as racist and out of touch. I think the idea of the show was that the audience would side with Sophie, against Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey.
However, I didn’t massively like Sophie’s way of portraying her views. And it felt a little uncomfortable – because about 90% of the audience in Cirencester were old and white – the same as Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey, who the show was trying to ridicule. I was expecting this show to attract an older audience – so this felt like the wrong political topic to choose. Overhearing audience conversations afterwards, many of the older audience felt alienated by the topics. I understand that these are extremely important political issues – but for a satire show, I’m not sure this was the right choice.
Aging
I also found another theme of the show fairly sad. Another big theme was the idea that Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey are both old, and forgetting things. They’ve both been abandoned by their families as they have got older. And are both lonely and losing their memories. It felt quite sad – both of these men used to be great, powerful people in the world of politics. It was sad to see them portrayed as this – lonely, failing health, losing memories, and desperately trying to cling on to anything they had before. Some of the scenes about them aging were a bit funny. But a lot just felt a bit sad. They were once great people but now they’re forgotten and shunned by the world.
Would I recommend I’m Sorry Prime Minister
If you’re a fan of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, then yes I would recommend this show. It was enjoyable to watch. And it brought back fond memories from the TV series. However, the show did have its issues, and I wasn’t left amazed by it. But I think it’s worth seeing – and people can make up their own mind about the choice of themes explored in the show.
Hope you enjoyed my I’m Sorry Prime Minister I can’t Quite Remember: Theatre Review! There are loads more amazing shows touring theatres across the UK and in London’s famous West End. Check out more of my theatre reviews here.
