His latest play holds a scrutinising lens to the horrors of Covid-19, and questions the real killer of dozens in a care home in Yorkshire.
Starring both Naylor and award-winning actress Emily Carding, the play (the title of which riffs on the infamous –alleged– Boris Johnson line) makes the comparison between the deaths in the care home and the deaths of Dr Harold Shipman, suggesting in both cases that it was indifference that let it happen. This was done through the connecting narrative of Steve, who left his mother in the care of Shipman (secretly hoping she’d die, perhaps?) before winding up in a care home himself in the future.
While I appreciate the attempt to compare and contrast the two situations, it felt too much as though he were suggesting the caregivers were responsible. Indeed, the two situations felt incomparable – Steve with his resentment of his mother resulting in his decision to leave his mother with Shipman, and care home workers terrified by a killer virus and lacking PPE to do their job safely. Even with the care worker’s disregard to patient comfort made clear, it felt as though criticism was aimed at the wrong people. Matt Hancock, thankfully, does the appropriate amount of venomous contempt.
Despite the clumsy analogy, this play was exceptionally well-written, with an almost lyrical script.
Both Carding and Naylor put in great performances, with Carding in particular delivering a heartfelt and powerful portrayal of the guilt, pain and exhaustion that care workers underwent.
But above all else, this show leaves you feeling angry.
Angry at the government and their hopeless policies. Angry at the callous disregard they showed for life throughout. Angry at the hypocrisy as they drank wine and ate cheese, and visited lovers, while telling us to follow the rules. Angry that, three years later, nobody has been held accountable, and that the applause for the sacrifices made by essential workers have been forgotten; replaced with the typical accusations of selfishness as they demand to be fairly compensated for their work after years of real terms wage cuts.
I didn't love this play, but I would encourage every single person to see it. That anger needs to remain potent, those lives must never be forgotten, and those responsible cannot believe they got away with flagrant profiteering.
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