Ian Hislop and Nick Newman return to the Watermill Theatre with their adaptation of AG Macdonell’s An Autobiography of a Cad. Written in 1939, the story remains unnervingly relevant today, skewering the arrogance, self-interest, and duplicity of certain public figures with biting humour and sharp wit.
The narrative follows Edward Fox-Ingleby MP as he dictates his life story, oscillating between his past escapades and the present day. Through his lens, we witness a onslaught of self-congratulatory anecdotes and scandalous affairs that build a portrait of a man utterly blind to his own flaws. It’s a tale that captures the entitled swagger of its protagonist with painfully incisive accuracy.
James Mack delivers a brilliant performance as Fox-Ingleby, embodying the over-the-top bravado of a stereotypical politician we all recognise. His magnetic stage presence often makes it feel like a one-man show, but Rhiannon Neads and Mitesh Soni offer stellar support, injecting vitality into Fox-Ingleby’s flashbacks with their seamless quick changes and versatile portrayals.
While the first act sets the scene effectively, the humour and structure begin to feel repetitive. The satirical edge occasionally dulls as familiar tropes of entitlement are revisited without significant narrative progression. The second act picks up the pace slightly, but both halves could benefit from tighter editing or a more condensed, 90-minute format without an interval. This would maintain the momentum and prevent the material from overstaying its welcome.
An Autobiography of a Cad is a clever and thought-provoking piece that underscores the timeless nature of its themes. The production succeeds in holding a mirror to society with humour and a touch of cynicism, making it an engaging, if slightly overextended, production.
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