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Democracy has ten characters, set around one main set consisting of four boxes so to speak, it opens with the election of Willy Brandt, who is stage upper left, and it consists of his life for two years, it shows the charisma of the man, well played by Philip who we know is very good at emotions, also his depressions, and what he achieved, ie at the end helping to bring down the Iron Curtain.
The Sydney Theatre is a new building only 2 years old so I was told by a lovely Austrialian lady I met in the foyer, who couldn't get over that I had come from London to see PQ. It's very much like the Olivier stage inside, we had a packed house, surprising being it was only a preview, there were a lot of women in the audience and I'm sure they were a few ozzie fans there, infact I heard two women talking as I came out, saying about PQ "Isn't he loveable", I did feel like saying yes he is.
Must say Philip does look very fine, in a suit with waistcoat and blue and red striped tie, in the second half, he takes his jacket off, undoes the waistcoat.. . Philip looked his usual calm self, his diction has usual was first class...
PQ does his lovely smile a lot, when of course he gets elected, also in the next election, when he thinks he's lost by 2 votes, he sits with his head in his hands (something like Emile in SP) then finds that he has in fact won by 2 votes, up he gets and we got that lovely smile again.
There is also a lovely moment in Act one (I think) when he supposedly goes in front of his people, very often Willy Brandt didn't actually speak to his people, he would just stand there; I can't remember why, but he drops to his knees, and prays, he did this so perfectly, but I did think of his knees! (remember Forum?)..."
At the end the ten cast members took their bows together, with Philip stage left. After the first bow, Philip and Geoff Kelso, who plays Guillaume, the man who betrays him, came to centre stage and bowed together, they then all went off, but came back for a second curtain.
