Review: PANDEMONIUM, Soho Theatre

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Armando Iannucci’s pandemic epic and “ongoing history play”, Pandemonium, makes its caustic debut at the Soho Theatre. In the style of a Jacobean masque, this show (presented by the Pandemonium Players) recounts the shambolic recent history of the Conservative government and their management of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pandemonium is a glowing example of Iannucci’s signature satire, wrought with almost lyrical crudeness. Never has the word ‘spaffed’ so liberally punctuated a playtext, and to such poetic effect.

Iannucci’s esoteric epic borrows from giants of English literature including Milton and Shakespeare to undermine the hubris of the English ruling elite and their sense of exceptionalism.

One of the most outstanding caricatures of the clownish government presented onstage has to be Matt “Hemlock”, a squirming socially inept creature dragged from a swamp. Amalia Vitale is delightfully gormless and pathetic in this role.

Anisha Field’s costume design blends elements of Jacobean costume with urban sportswear, blending Adidas stripes with ruffs and collars, in the same way that grandiose rhyming and arrogant posturing blends with Orbis’ (an anagram…) flaccid authority.

The entire ensemble are engaging chameleons, energetically directed by Patrick Marber.

Packed as the Soho Theatre press night was with liberal metropolitans, it is easy to imagine this show having a broader appeal across the country, affected as we all are - regardless of political affiliation - by the decisions and the motivations of the current government.

A hilarious night out, although a bit too close to the bone to not leave a sour taste.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett

Pandemonium plays at Soho Theatre until 13 January 2024, with further information here.