2015COMMUNI_O4It seems that politics in the twentieth century was very much a trust game. Who is spying for the Russians? Who is spying for the British Government? And most importantly, who is a secret undercover communist?

Mr. Kingfisher and Mr. Nightingale – or, Kip and Albert – are suit wearing, whisky drinking men convened in the basement of a dingy Vienna hotel. Kingfisher is from Cambridge and fraternises with lords, and Nightingale is a working class Northerner. Both tried and tested formulas of political theatre: the class clash and the secret mission.

The problem is that The Communist Threat is too conventional for its own good. Yes, there are plot twists but we see them coming. A dramatic shift in the couples’ power balance is to be expected really – this is, after all, the twentieth century. No one is safe at the top of the political ladder and it’s rather lonely up there.

Albert is definitely the character we are drawn towards – and no, not because we’re both Northerners. He’s just more likeable. You wouldn’t be surprised to find him at your local Wetherspoons or football match. On the other hand, I’d wager you’ll find types like Kip in the House of Commons or probably running some high-flying Kensington law firm. They’re just slightly too stereotypical. The Communist Threat’s plot isn’t all that unique, which is fine if it comes with nuanced and dimensional characters, but Albert and Kip seem a bit like cardboard cut outs of the Working-Class-Man and the Upper-Middle-Class Man.

The plot also takes a while to kick off. Just a fraction too long is spent establishing the relationship between the two men: they play cards, eat soup, discuss cricket…after which we’re left with about fifteen minutes to get down to the more exciting stuff. The most interesting exchanges come in this climax, where the energy is heightened and we all become a touch more engaged.

If you like Pinter or Arthur Miller then you’ll probably enjoy this, but ultimately The Communist Threat just doesn’t push enough boundaries and sadly it doesn’t quite reach the mark. Or Marx.

The Communist Threat is playing at Zoo Southside (venue 82) until August 31. For more information, visit the Fringe website.