Review: BERLUSCONI - A NEW MUSICAL at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

But does the theatrical entertainment by Ricky Simmonds and Simon Vaughan (based on an idea by Alan Hayling) currently playing at Elephant and Castle’s newest branch of Southwark Playhouse, paint an illuminating warts-and-all picture of the renowned womanising misogynist, or is it simply a glossy makeover of which the man himself would undoubtedly approve?

Through James Grieve’s direction which is complemented by Rebecca Howell’s choreography, Berlusconi is brought to the stage by Sebastien Torkia who plays the seemingly Teflon orange peril as a latter-day Tiberius with a superficial sleaziness which isn’t always entirely convincing but which enables the women in his firmament (wife, various mistresses, his mother and his prosecutor nemesis) to circle, criticise and cajole. Stylistically, its Nine with a dash of Evita, a dollop of Jesus Christ Superstar and a soupçons of Les Miserable thrown into the mix. And whilst the creative team attempt valiantly to flesh-out the shenanigans of this smarmy, perennial survivor, realistically they could only ever really scratch the surface in a couple of hours. The corruption and vanity seem irrefutable and yet his wheedling, back-handers and populist charm have saved the three-time Italian PM from imprisonment on numerous occasions - even when he was finally convicted as a septuagenarian.

Torkia, (who bears more than a passing resemblance to Sacha Baron Cohen) is on stage for most of the show, but it is the aforementioned women (Sally Ann Triplett as Ilda the prosecutor, Natalie Kassanga as Bella, Jenny Fitzpatrick as Fama the journalist, Emma Hatton as 2nd wife Veronica and Susan Fay as Mama Rosa) who give the show its undoubted vocal oomph. Despite a tentative start on press night, once into their stride the cast, band and crew (who are required to constantly feed and retrieve props through the flaps in Lucy Osborne’s heavily raked stage set) committed their talents and energy to delivering a solid piece of musical theatre — one which with a few re-writes in key areas, would make a terrific addition to the West End. A sophisticated syncopated number in which the cast bemoan Berlusconi’s ability to Press all the right buttons had oodles of class and sass. Veronica’s song Secrets and Lies is an impressive ballad (save for a slightly flat ending) and even Russia’s Vladimir Putin (Gavin Wilkinson) is given a nod in the bare-chested, comic bromance duet My Weekend With Vladimir which mocks the Italian’s apparent friendly relations with the despot. The final notable member of the cast is Matthew Woodyatt who as ever dependable school buddy Antonio, serves as a constant adviser and confident throughout Berlusconi’s life, repaying an early debt of gratitude.