EDINBURGH 2013 - BWW Reviews: THE THREE LIONS, Pleasance Courtyard, August 14 2013

It's the selection for World Cup 2018, and David Cameron has pulled out the big guns to win the bid. Along with Beckham and Prince William they are THE THREE LIONS, set behind the scenes at the Zurich hotel as they take part in last minute lobbying to bring the world cup home.

William Gaminara's new play pillories coalition politics, Fifa and even takes a side-swipe at the Beckhams marking a farce out of, well, England's World Cup bidding farce.

Dugald Bruce-Lockhart does a good impression as a hapless Cameron desperately trying to keep things together - although at times he does appear to be channelling Nick Clegg. Tom Davey really impresses as a practical-joking heir to the throne, stealing the show with a part he seems destined to play.

However, as fun as the show is, caricatures do seem to take the place for acting. And the gags are a little too easy - Beckham (Sean Browne) as a simpleton, Cameron as a posh boy desperate to be an everyman. In fact, only Prince William seems to be played with any real originality. But there is also much to enjoy, particularly in the later stages as the bid falls apart and the energy level on stage increases.

There's good support too from Alice Bailey-Johnson as a hapless trainee PA and Ravi Aujla as a hotel employee with a strong grip of history.

Colin Falconer's hotel set also impresses, where even subtle changes in room size become another stick to beat the prime minister with.

THE THREE LIONS isn't going to bring down any governments (or football governing bodies) with biting satire, but it's a pleasantly diverting 90 minutes - and a darn sight better than many football matches.

"THE THREE LIONS" runs at 16.30 until August 26th (not 20th) at Pleasance Courtyard.

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