Edinburgh Festival 2009. Party

By Robert Iles - 23rd Aug 2009

There is no doubt as to the exceptional talents of Tom Basen as a comedy writer; his solo show at Edinburgh is one most accomplished at the Edinburgh Festival. And while Party is very funny with terrific comic performances, it doesn’t quite sustain itself dramatically and falters midway through to intermittent watch glancing.

Five disparate students (but ultimately Oxbridge) are trying to form a new political party and struggle with pretty much everything from their stance on china to the perception of the party’s mooted colours.

It is a hilarious hour – but the progression is slight and is not helped by the lower end stakes of ruminating students, who don’t transpire to symbolise or provide an allegory for anything more urgent or profound.