Club Is Still in Full Working Order’

H&H Series Thursday, April 6, 2017 31 ETCETERA POSH ‘The boys’ club is still in full working order’ hen Posh premiered at BRIDGET GALTON the Royal Court in 2010 it was a prescient talks to director Cressida Wtake-down of the Carré about women privileged male elite running the country. taking on the male elite Inspired by unofficial Oxford University dining society The in her all female Bullingdon Club – past members include Boris Johnson, George production of Posh Osborne and David Cameron – it centres on a debauched evening in a country pub that erupts into not changing any pronouns, none violence and sexual harassment. of the language has been changed. Laura Wade’s play about tribal I think it only accentuates the class ■ All female version of Posh directed by Cressida Carré Picture: DARREN BELL masculinity was turned into 2014 and privilege. Rather than being so movie The Riot Club and now gets much about the men it brings out But the scenes where club schools system they are a separate restrictive wife, mistress mother, an intriguing twist at Islington’s another level to their expectation of members hire a prostitute for a “ten entity who are always going to be that isn’t classified by gender gives Pleasance Theatre. getting everything they want.” bird roast” or harrass waitress fine.” women the freedom to prove they The female cast playing parts In rehearsal they’ve discussed Rachel to kiss them, have been Wade herself is “completely on can play anything. It brings so originated by the likes of Kit whether a group of privileged disturbing for cast members. board” offering her “full support” much more to theatre to have Harington and James Norton, women might behave in a similarly “It’s very interesting to play that for the production, women in these roles,” says Carré follows a trend for cross-gender tribal way – after all, equality cuts scene, the feelings the girls had of “It’ll be fascinating to see what who has been a witness to a move to casting, from Maxine Peake’s both ways, harassing one of their own has been light an all-female company can more women directing, writing and Hamlet to Glenda Jackson’s Lear. Carré, who studied dance before quite upsetting. But it doesn’t take throw on the play’s world of power producing theatre. Director Cressida Carré was taking a theatre MA at Mountview anything away from the situation or and privilege,” says Wade. “I’m “It was a mix of not being able to inspired by Phyllida Lloyd’s all in Crouch End, says yes. “It’s pack the power of the play, these things often asked what Posh would have penetrate that boy’s club not being female Henry IV at the Donmar mentality here you see it in upper being done by female bodies or been like if there were women in let in and not trying through lack of Warehouse two years ago. class boys, but a group of women in coming from a female mouth.” the Riot Club instead of men. confidence. That was how it was. We “It really made an impression on that class could be equally as cruel Even if Cameron has fallen from Perhaps now I’ll find out.” had to deal with it or push through. me, the language was so much more and mean. Women can be as nasty power, Posh remains relevant says Ultimately casting women in Now women are running buildings accessible and powerful” she says. to each other as men.” Carré. mens’ roles widens the scope for and in powerful positions. It’s “I thought it would be interesting Clear that she’s not asking her “They are everywhere in every actresses in an industry that has opening up.” to do something similar with a very actresses to imitate men, Carre is industry. They just reform and itself been something of a boy’s male play to see if that specifically focusing on them “playing the regroup. The boys’ club is still in club. ■ Posh is at the Pleasance Theatre, male language would be more characters and the truth of the full working order. Much as people “An ensemble piece like this, with Islington until April 22, pleasance. powerful with female actors. We are situation”. have tried to democratise our meaty roles away from the standard co.uk. REVIEW Riot Club still has bite but lacks real danger POSH ralistically, while others are dering their power. William PLEASANCE THEATRE almost pantomimic. As a fresh Reynolds’ strobe lighting adds a ✩✩ examination of gender, Carré’s hellish touch. intentions are murky. However, Carré’s production Cressida Carré offers an intrigu- It does highlight the boys’ lacks real danger, as “banter” ing provocation with her all- absurdly performative masculin- turns to sexual threat and female revival of Laura Wade’s ity: they don boorish speech and conflict to violence; Serena portrait of entitled white male behaviour just as they do club Jennings’ inciting Alistair, excess. Wade’s play made a regalia and arcane rules. But though unsettling, needs more splash in 2010 by lampooning grotesque sometimes tips into insidious nastiness. Oxford University’s Bullingdon cartoonishness, interrupting the But there are amusing turns Club (here the thinly veiled Riot rhythm of Wade’s wit and grim from Macy Nyman’s clueless Club), whose former members astuteness of her observation Balfour and Verity Kirk’s giddy included occupants of Downing that these destructive toffs will idiot Ed, while Alice Brittain is Street and the mayoral office: likely one day run the country. superb as the swashbuckling Cameron, Osborne and Johnson. Sara Perks’ apocalyptic design womaniser and Sarah Thom The cross-casting continues a juxtaposes the fine dining set-up all-too-plausible as the shadowy, welcome trend, giving meatier of the rural gastro pub where deal-making lord. parts to comparatively unders- the club meets with rubble and Wade’s play certainly still has erved actresses, but here is too blackened walls. It emphasises bite and this is an enjoyable scattershot to make a strong the desperate backlash of the account of it, but misses the statement. Male names and privileged against a progressive chance for a thoroughly radical pronouns are retained, and some agenda – those willing to burn reappraisal. actresses play their roles natu- the world down before surren- Marianka Swain ■ Posh at the Pleasance, Islington. Picture: DARREN BELL.

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