Boris Johnson mercilessly mocked in “Brexit the Musical” - by EU trade lawyer
GETTY Europe Vs Britain takes to the stage in 'Brexit the Musical'
Boris Johnson baring Union flag pants and a “weaselly” Michael Gove are at the centre of the stinging satirical show being lapped up in Scotland. Now sold-out, "Brexit The Musical" follows the British referendum and the break with the European Union, framed around Mr Johnson and Mr Gove, who led the calls for Britain to leave the bloc. Former Prime Minister David Cameron is portrayed as a posh-boy politician who is relieved when he can stand down and stop pretending to be ordinary.
GETTY Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Sell-out Brexit musical makes waves
During the musical on hearing the news that "Leave" has won, Mr Johnson, who in reality surprised many with his decision to campaign to leave the EU and is now Britain's foreign secretary, sings in horror: "Leaving Europe will be a catastrophe/ Overnight we'll bugger the economy." Meanwhile, Mr Gove, now agriculture secretary, is shown as a desperate character who just wants to be liked - as he wears a tartan dressing gown and fluffy slippers. And for the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, the Brexit vote means above all that he has to miss the Glastonbury music festival in the scathing send-up. The show's writer, 39-year-old EU trade lawyer Chris Bryant, told Reuters the show was meant as "an escape from the dreary reality of where we are".
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I think we are heading towards a colossal mess, and I'm of the view that we will end up with a 'hard Brexit' almost by accident, rather than by design Chris Bryant
Mr Bryant, who works for International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, claims it is more likely that Britain will end up cutting all formal ties with the EU. He said: ”I think we are heading towards a colossal mess, and I'm of the view that we will end up with a 'hard Brexit' almost by accident, rather than by design." The show will run for the whole month of the Festival, and Bryant hopes to take it to London. Reviews of the show have been mixed. A British Theatre Guide review said: “This is a fun-filled show that lampoons our politicians with such a wicked zest and no matter which way you voted it’s a joyous romp that the capacity audience absolutely loved. Voice Magazine called the show “stomach-achingly hilarious” while others said it “finds the fun” in Brexit. Others were not so keen.
GETTY Brexit the Musical - Boris Johnson portrayed as blundering fool with 'lost' plan