Writer: Tess Seddon
Composer: Harry Blake
Directors: Harry Blake, Tess Seddon
Say Yes to Tess began in 2017 when Tess Seddon moved back to Yorkshire from London after a disastrous experience on the Edinburgh Fringe and the break-up of a relationship. She became involved with the Yorkshire Party and stood as a candidate in the General Election that year. Two years ago it was about to be staged when Covid got in the way and now, finally, it’s now reached fruition, produced by TheatreState in association with Leeds Playhouse.
The 2022 version, written by Tess Seddon with songs by Harry Blake and directed by the two of them, emerges as bright and breezy, but it’s not difficult to find things to query. For a start Tess herself is the only character (MD/Sacha Jamie Noar excepted) to be presented as a real person. Purvi Parmar suffers especially, with two characters presented (shall we say?) vigorously: the aggressive housemate Dani and Sue, the erotic author and fellow Yorkshire Party candidate. Her overacting – all blazing eyes and striking attitudes – is, at least, skilfully done.
The men fare better. Andrew Whitehead offers a caricature Yorkshireman and a compassionate portrait of Dad; Kofi Dennis gives a sympathetic view of Ben, the man behind the Yorkshire Party, but is essentially a caricature; Jamie Noar is mostly confined to the keyboards and only occasionally surfaces as Sacha, the London-based boyfriend. The running gag is that Tess, once banned from a school choir, is now writing a musical, but the songs often come up with the goods, notably Anyone Can Be a Politician.
Tess herself belongs in the real world: at the end there is even an interview with her at the count in 2017. Tess Seddon’s own performance is essentially reactive, responding to others rather than taking the lead, and is convincing without establishing any great personality.
The real problem lies in the balance between what really happened and what happens on stage. The housemate’s behaviour is unbelievable, but Seddon’s note in the programme makes it clear that such a person exists. The Yorkshire Party is represented on stage by buffoons. Surely this cannot be true!
Overall Say Yes to Tess is a pleasant hour and a half, staged simply, with four voting booths that twist and turn and a small platform. The cast of five can’t be faulted for lack of energy and the message – to use your vote – is unimpeachable. It’s just that you can’t stop wondering what the actual people involved, so grotesquely caricatured, think about it.
Runs until April 2nd 2022
The Reviews Hub Score
Energetic caricature
