Review of ‘The Gang of Three’: “A good act of parliament, but needs more labour”

The King’s Head Theatre opens its stage to this new political drama exploring the relationship among Tony Crosland, Roy Jenkins, and Denis Healey, following their ambition to become the next party leaders. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if it’s worth the audience’s election.

Politics is the art of the possible. And everything is possible in the theatre – even a play about politics. Cynism apart, I do enjoy a good cabinet drama dealing with all the clandestine talk the rise to power requires. And when those involved are full of such delicious baggage to explore (aka for sh*t), the possibilities for a compelling, thought-provoking piece of historical fiction have fewer limits than Maggie Thatcher shutting down coal mines.

We do get a hint of that flavour in Robert Khan & Tom Salinsky’s latest endeavour, The Gang of Three, which opened at the King’s Head Theatre last week – bringing back from the dead (metaphorically, that is) British MPs Tony Crosland, Roy Jenkins, and Denis Healey and their behind-the-scenes conversations; following their goal to become the next Labour leaders upon Harold Wilson’s resignation.

A 90-minute jaunt of peer bantering as we travel through years of fruitless attempts at climbing the governmental ladder, the play establishes an enticing premise about the ambitions and secret intentions their relationships are built upon. The hook has proven its efficacy – you don’t get more solid evidence than an almost full house on a Saturday matinee. However, the delivery fails to live up to those expectations – at least to some extent.

Though the dialogue is crafted with flow and packed with sharp remarks, the human aspect of the piece is consistently missing. With only one scene bringing out the characters’ vulnerabilities behind their public personas, the chances to form a bond with their audience evaporate into a mist of fun-fact sketches – which, despite providing the grounds for a strong setting, are incapable of forging the arc and soulfulness required for the text to resonate.

As a result, we can be entertained by its fantasized depiction of real-life events, but we never have the urge to invest ourselves into its narrative – simply because we’re never allowed (let alone, invited) to do so. There’s a shortage of universality in its themes that prevents us from drawing any comparisons between the personages’ journeys and our own. And consequently, the play lies closer to a collection of historical reenactments than proper storytelling.

We can still praise the cast’s efforts at boosting the script’s capabilities. With all three members oozing great chemistry, and portraying their parts with ease and flair, their slightly hyperbolic approach creates an aura of old-school magnetism. Among them, Alan Cox shines through his playfully charismatic interpretation of Tony Crosland, while Hywel Morgan boasts range through his contrasting take on the college and adult versions of Roy Jenkins.

High aspirations call for high sacrifices. It’s a notion that could have served as the beating heart of The Gang of Three, taking viewers into the fragile spirit dwelling underneath the front of any notable figure. Though offering a few hints of that concept, the piece is still a few reforms away from achieving such purpose – giving us the plain facts but not the emotional sonority to make itself heard across the theatrical landscape. It has the raw tools to win an audience’s vote, but it needs to project a clearer idea of what it brings to the party.

All pictures credit to Manuel Harlan.

The Gang of Three plays at London’s King’s Head Theatre until 1 June. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara