The Autobiography of a Cad
Private Eye’s Ian Hislop and Nick Newman return to the Watermill, this time with a hilarious new adaptation of A.G. Macdonell’s satirical novel.
The Autobiography of a Cad tells the rise of self-proclaimed political “titan” Edward Percival Fox-Ingleby from Eton to Oxford and then onto Parliament. We follow Edward’s Oxford University escapades with friends taking the blame, being on the administrative frontline (safely in Whitehall!) of the First World War effort and joining the Tory party in the 1920s. He cheats, lies and backstabs his way through life.
Fox-Ingleby is a man who no-one loves as much as himself and he plays fast and loose with society’s rules. This fictitious memoir about serving the nation bears absolutely no relation to any politicians past, present or future....apparently, or maybe that should be (to coin a phrase much used by Ian Hislop), allegedly!
It’s all toe-curling stuff! I especially liked the three occasions for Edward’s ‘resignation speech’, at the lectern in the rain, with Miss Appleby and Mr Collins stood under black umbrellas in the pouring rain. Remind you of anything??!
This production of this new play is extremely well performed by its cast of three.
James Mack brilliantly plays the eponymous cad. His characterisation is spot on. Fox-Ingleby is a pretty odious man – but he is played with huge amounts of energy and comic timing.
The other two actors, between them, play all number of characters. Rhiannon Neads predominantly plays Miss Appleby, but also other parts including various mistresses and Edward’s wife and mother. Mitesh Soni plays Mr Collins, as well as Edward’s father, workers on the estate, school, and university friends etc. Both actors play all parts with the same amount of energy, and bring out different accents, ages, physical differences, and more comedy.
All three of the cast are fabulous. They are barely off stage, and in this small intimate space, it is easy to see how hard they are working!
Director Paul Hart should be proud of his cast and creative team. The set looked the perfect image of a private members club, and effortlessly moved from this to Eton, to Oxford and then to Parliament. I especially liked the green benches that appeared from moveable panels in the walls. In fact, those panels were an ingenious idea, and enabled set, props and costume to appear and disappear with ease.
The play runs for quite a lengthy 2 hours 40 minutes (including an interval), but has great pace, and the script kept my attention. Certainly, the press night audience were laughing throughout.
All in all, this is a hilarious evening’s entertainment, if at times a little too close for comfort!
This show was reviewed on the 11th February 2025 at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury where it runs until the 22nd March 2025. Tickets available here: The Autobiography of a Cad
Review written by Ruth Hawkins
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Photo credit: Matt Crockett
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