THEATRE: FEELGOOD

The theatre is an unforgiving space for mistakes. So when the protagonist, press secretary to the British Labour Prime Minister Eddie, played by Anthony Hunt stumbled on his words more than a few times and nearly crashed into the audience when his ex-wife and journalist Liz (Annette van Roden) jumped on his back, it was a little distracting and unfair to the rest of the players who were on fire. This is not to say that Hunt, who delivered every eye-rolling snide remark with comic precision, was not good. I’m hoping he had simply fallen victim to opening night nerves that will be ironed out as the shows roll on. Feelgood is a clever and comic take on the art of political spin doctoring. Eddie and speech writer Paul are crafting the perfect words for the PM in the midst of a riot and keeping a scandal involving genetically modified plants that have caused men to grow breasts under wraps. Before the cups runneth over, Eddie has to stop Liz from publishing the scoop of the year. In a story about boys, it is a woman that outshines all testosterone in the room. Roden roused a well-deserved round of applause from the audience after an impassioned monologue, the only other came customarily when the play ended.

Until Apr 17, New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown, $22-28, 1300 306 776, www.mca-tix.com.au