Graham Woolnough's lusciously bizarre backstage peek at the lives of royalty is a theatrical treat for those with any political disposition. In a speedy 50 minutes, Ian Stark's Backstage Billy pinpoints the highs and lows of a career serving the Queen Mother.
Stark encapsulates the batty upper-class with bracing energy and comic intelligence, all the while never undermining an adorable and very real sense of satisfaction he received from a career spanning 40 years in service. Portly and well decorated, Billy comes to life as a not-so bashful royalist, and Stark carries him through the production with what seems to be a worryingly acute grasp of the regal sense of humour.
Innocent and jovial pomposity shines as we get a rich peek into the elitist life of the Queen Mother and her varying pursuits. Her flying sessions were a particular highlight - 'ma'am made him do loop the loop after we had a couple of stiff ones' - as was the royals’ response to a visiting Chinese dignitary - 'Mr Woo felt hungry...we ordered him a Chinese takeaway'.
The potential reality behind many of these self-knowingly overblown stories is what brings comedy to the stage. Everything seems utterly ridiculous yet so entirely plausible at the same time.
More overblown, and slightly less plausible, quips are carried out in the staging and are equally effective. The addition of cardboard corgis and a fabulous plated television lay amongst regal furniture to set the scene for this quasi-realistic and utterly hilarious sketch.My only quibble would be timing. The piece is staged at the turn of the Millennium, making some jokes dated and far-fetched for a show featuring such manic dialogue and pace. It took me longer than it should have to recall the specifics of Peter Mandelson's political mishaps during that period, for instance; a young Fringe audience would struggle with this.Otherwise, Tea With the old Queen is compellingly outrageous and significant.
