The show starts with a mock trigger warning “for humourless pricks … this show identifies as funny”. It’s a shame then that the satire is its weakest aspect. When Spitting Image returned to TV it proved divisive. The show’s introduction asks us to shelve our outrage – it’s here to mock everyone.
The stage show has an advantage over its TV counterpart – seeing the puppets up close is impressive. The puppeteers are the stars of this two-hour show, deftly manipulating the cast of characters for dance numbers and slow-motion sequences (the fight scene starring Tom Cruise is a highlight). Working in sync with the actors, who nail most of their impressions, it’s an impressive choreography. The staging is striking too, taking us from Buckingham Palace to Ukraine, via the sky and sea.
