"Tony! - The Tony Blair Rock Opera"

Derby Theatre.

Written by Harry Hill and Steve Brown, this is one musical theatre concept that I really could not imagine, but Hill and Brown certainly put the paaaartay into political party. As you'd expect it is wickedly satirical, full of fiendish fun and titillatingly tasteless.

Politics don't interest me, and even though what I know about politics could be written on a postage stamp, I really enjoyed this mickey-take of all things political, plus anything written by Harry Hill is like a carrot and stick to me; by the way there are carrots and sticks in this production, but not used in the same way!!

Jack Whittle plays Blair, and it really is uncanny how he gets Blair's details so accurate. Whittle is very rarely off stage as we go through his wannabe rock star phase through his political highs and lows and even up to his possible death bed scenes. It's a fast and physical role and we also get to hear a really good singing voice.

Tori Burgess plays his wife, Cherie, with a Scouse accent that sounds like nails being dragged down a blackboard. There's one scene, at the start of their relationship, which shows Cherie talking the hind leg off of Blair while being intimate, which gets progressively more physical as the "conversation" goes on.

Peter Mandelson is played by Howard Samuels in an almost panto dame style crossed with Count Dracula. Wonderfully camp with some lovely asides to the audience, especially when he is playing other characters, just in case we didn't know he had changed character. Great fun to watch.

Phil Sealey plays Gordon Brown but also gives a wonderful performance as Saddam Hussain in the style of Groucho Marx, as he sings “I Never Done Anything Wrong”.

Martin Johnston plays Neil Kinnock, and where else apart from musical theatre would you get to see Neil Kinnock crooning a song about politics. Johnston also doubles as George W Bush.

John Prescott is played by Rosie Strobel, and her song as Osama Bin Laden is one of the highlights of the show. As Prescott Rosie has got those annoying speech defects spot on, as well as his rottweiler attitude.

Robin Cook is played by Sally Cheng and it is so strange that the gorgeous Sally actually resembles Robin Cook quite a bit with the wig and facial hair wig she wears on stage; it's really eerie.

Princess Diana is played by Emma Jay Thomas, and appears as a guest at his party as his dance partner and then as a ghostly masseur later in the show, just to let him know that she was watching over him. There are hints that Lady Di and Blair may have been attracted to each other, or is that just something naughty that Harry Hill may have popped into the musical to add spice? Who knows, and who cares? Emma Jay manages to look like a wonderful cartoony caricature of the People's Princess and also uses the "F" word!! How un-regal, but how deliciously naughty.

Throughout we are also treated to "guest" appearances including Blair's rock hero, Mick Jaggers, sorry Jagger.

Directed by Peter Rowe. This is one very funny, and very fast piece of theatre, and you have to be quick to get every one of the jokes. It's also one of the daftest, and one of the most enjoyable satirical theatre pieces I've seen. Everyone must have seen some of Harry Hill's shows on TV, and this is just like that but with his tongue even more firmly pressed into his cheek. It's just crazy good.

The Set and Costume Design is by Libby Watson. The set is definitely nothing short of eye-catching in white, black and red with the letters T,O,N and Y, almost reminiscent of the '68 ELVIS stage design, but on a smaller scale. Could this be a subliminal message, for those old enough to remember the Elvis comeback show, that Blair was as popular and as big as the King Of Rock 'n' Roll? The same colour scheme is used in the costumes, black suits, white shirts and red ties.

Mark Dymock's Lighting Design made sure that this stage party was anything but political and more of a fun party.

Sound designer Richard Brooker made sure that the split-second sound effects were just that, and the overall sound was incredibly crisp. You could hear all the lyrics of the songs which also meant you didn't miss any of the comedy in the lyrics.

The Choreography is by Francesca Jaynes. And there are many big dance numbers, which I for one was not expecting, but enjoyed the whole big bizarreness of it all.

The wigs, as well as the make up for this show, are a vital part of the whole image for these characters and have been designed by Vanessa White.

The Musical Supervisor is Oli Jackson, who also arranged the music. The big backing sound amazingly only comes from three people, Oli on keys, David Guy on guitar and bass and Harry Bent on drums.

There are some irritatingly catchy songs here, penned fully by Steve Brown, not least the show closer called "The Whole Wide World". the style of the music is borrowed, or maybe that should be "influenced" from all areas of music, not least musical theatre. There's one song that sounds very similar to "You'll Be Back" from "Hamilton", one that reminded me of "Look Down" from "Les Miserables" and another that sounded like it had been influenced for something from "A Chorus Line".

One other good thing about this show is that it doesn't just take the urine out of Blair, it's a very fair musical as it takes it out of every one of the characters, and is not afraid to either. David Plunkett and his guide dog are very comical, at times you think, should I be laughing at this, and then you remember who wrote the book, and you do.

If you are easily offended about public figures, especially political ones, being sent up - no, no-one - then don't come and see it. If you have a good sense of humour and like ridicule in its' finest form, then get yourself a ticket and have a blast.

"Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera" is at Derby Theatre until Saturday 16 September.