Whipping It Up @ Lowry, Salford

9:00am Wednesday 21st November 2007

Comments (1)   Have your say »

Set entirely in the new majority of three Tory Government's Whips Office, Whipping it Up had a six-strong cast with impressive cvs across stage, radio and screen large and small.

Richard Wilson plays Victor Meldrew playing Fulton the Government Chief Whip.

His One Foot colleague, Owen Brennan plays his deputy Alastair.

The programme notes were comprehensively informative about what "whipping" is, going back to 1769, including an "apocryphal" mention of a gripping exchange some years ago between a then young Jack Straw & Labour Whip Michael Cocks.

The plot surrounds securing a series of votes in a tight situation in the run up the Christmas.

There appear to be no steps or dirty tricks between the Whips' Offices that are not permissible.

The most vindictive threats and bullying go on within each party.

The script is liberally scattered with the most "unparliamentary" of language.

As may be anticipated, humour was made out of the irony of some of the positions into which this plunged the characters.

"If you rule out constituency, party and conscience, don't forget self interest".

I'm afraid, though ,that the plot was predictable, the pace pedestrian.

It even felt like the cast hurried to take their second bow as the audience made for the exits.

• Whipping It Up Runs until Saturday. Details from the box office on 0844 847 2277.