Radio Weekly #16 – Party

Radio Weekly With Ian Wolf

This week saw the return of the world’s least successful political party – and I’m not talking about the Lib Dems’ party conference…

Party started its third series on Radio 4 this week. Created and co-starring Tom Basden, it was originally a stage play but has now become rather successful in the sitcom world. In fact, it’s probably one of the funniest radio sitcoms on at the moment. Don’t worry if you’re not into satire; the sitcom’s really about the people who make this political party rather than actual politicians and policies.

Self-appointed leader Jared (Jonny Sweet), and his followers Simon (Basden), Duncan (Tim Key), Mel (Anna Crilly) and Phoebe (Katy Wix) complete the line-up. Each episode sees them argue with one other about what they should do and how to go about getting elected…

One of the most notable features of Party is the structure of the show. All the episodes are set in just one location and it’s set as a single scene, the whole 30 minutes self-contained. I suppose many of the best sitcoms revolve around characters trapped or unable to escape from each other; Porridge (prison) and Red Dwarf (spaceship) to call to mind. And in this case, the writers tap their characters in an odd way, by not letting the action leave from this single location.

The cast themselves were also on top form in this episode, which probably arrives from the fact they’ve worked together for quite some time. Key and Basden in particular have worked on Cowards and Mark Watson’s radio shows, while Crilly and Wix are an established double act.

However, it’s probably the writing which is the best element of this show. Not only is Basden able to set all the action in one scene and keep it entertaining, but also there are so many little moments which really make you laugh. My favourite is a wonderful Abbott and Costello-style “Who’s on First” skit, in which Simon says he is going to dinner later at a place called “Ask”.

As far as I’m concerned, Party is a great sitcom and I think one suitable for TV adaptation. After all, with just one scene it’ll be cheap to make – which will please the commissioners – and it was a play beforehand, so it was visual to begin with. A wonderful listen.