The 47th at the Old Vic

It’s not a secret that in the last decades, US-American elections have been the stuff of comedies. How the likes of Bush, Biden and Trump can be considered the most eligible to lead a country delivers a goldmine of comedic potential and demands to be laughed at, even if just to make the situation more bearable. Mike Bartlett’s The 47^th, however, offers neither direction nor solution, but just mines tired, old jokes. It poses as a satire but never really progresses beyond being a burlesque. 

This is quite a pity since the genuine comedic potential of all involved candidates is endless. Instead, the attacks against Trump remain flatly repetitive of what everyone has heard non-stop for the past six years, and the one time Biden is roasted is distastefully ad hominem. No, “viciously funny” this is not; instead, it’s more of a harrowing fantasy of Trumpian politics taken in the most extreme direction. 

Nevertheless, credit where it’s due: the play is written in blank verse, and, what’s more, it doesn’t feel forced. The lines flow nicely and feel very laissez-faire, which is in itself quite an accomplishment, giving it more of a satirical feel than the humour itself does.

The surrounding production is fantastic. Bertie Carvel’s Trump is spot-on and hilarious. Even if the jokes don’t always work, his impression is breathtaking and convinces right from the start, bringing a bunch of laughs. He is joined by a whole cast of entirely capable actors, who are clearly filled with adoration for the project. This is just as well, considering Rupert Goold’s astute directing makes the best out of the script, creating a well-paced show that delivers whenever it portrays the horrors of the shifts in mood from lighthearted to severe.

As such, The 47^th does have its share of potential – it’s just not really a comedy; for that, it’s too mean-spirited. But within its limitations it’s still enjoyable. It doesn’t tread any new ground or offer an approach to bridge the great divide currently plaguing American politics, but is instead merely symptomatic of the same.

Michael Higgs

The 47^th is at the Old Vic from 29^th March until 28^th May 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.