I’m Not Running

Pauline Gibson (Siân Brooke) turns her attention from medicine to politics after a campaign to save her local hospital in Corby. When she contemplates running for Labour leadership (as a former independent outsider) the play explores the life events that motivate her decision. This is achieved through flashbacks capturing various moments with important figures in her life such as her old boyfriend, Jack Gould (Alex Hassell), who is a Labour stalwart loyalist and her political rival, and her fractious mother, Blaise Gibson (Liza Sadovy).

Hare’s incisive analysis of the state of British politics is unfailing and it is not surprising that the live broadcast should coincide with a major hemorrhaging of labour MPs in Britain to an independent group. The text beautifully highlights the tension in the relationship between political aspirations and principles and dogmatic party policy lines. Hare’s language is wry, witty, sometimes sardonic and always gripping. 

The staging has an inventive use of space and the direction is cohesive, however, the performances are not always able to adequately lift the words from their pages. Brooke captures a great deal of the emotional agony involved in the decision, yet her ability to be a captivating politician doesn’t seem to surface. Hassell slides into the political role with greater ease and panache but shows less humanity. Sadovy’s hard-hitting portrayal of Blaise is one of the highlights of the show and takes the play into a darker, more interesting sphere.

Patricia Di Risio

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