Politics and the manipulation of public opinion are hot topics across the world in the 21st century.
In Daisy Miles’s 16-minute short play, The Ambiguous Divinity of Sarah Chook we quickly find out that Sarah (Lucy Allen), a junior member of the LibDems, has the knack not just of influencing others, but in offering a kind of prophecy.
The Prime Minister has just died, just as Sarah predicted. This leads to male MPs from two opposition parties (the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK) to secure her services at an upcoming press conference.
Director Saniya Saraf masterminds this three-hander, especially allowing for some black humour to flow by playing up the stereotypes of each of the men.
Mr Horne (Aaron Rooney) and Mr Watson (Tim Molyneux) are politicians not averse to a bit of bribery, although their differences are clearly stated.
Filmed at the Union Theatre when this play was performed as part of ‘Union Shorts’, this show boasts clean sound design from Abhinav Mishra.
With a hearty serving of black comedy, The Ambiguous Divinity of Sarah Chook works both as a short play and as the seed of something more in-depth.
Allen’s performance is full of determination while denying she has any kind of gift – even when events clearly prove otherwise.
This says a lot in a short time. In listening to commenters and experts, are we really being told the truth, or can our minds simply be made up for us?
An interesting question at a time where the make-up of the British opposition in Parliament is in flux. I’d like to see this grow into a one act piece, at least.