Hare does Blair

I’m rather excited about David Hare’s forthcoming play, Gethsemane: a satire of New Labour. If it comes close to matching Stuff Happens, I’ll be extremely happy.

This got me thinking: which artist captured the essence of the Blair years and the man’s personal style most effectively?

Steve Bell did pretty well; it’s the eye that does it for me. I quite enjoyed Robert Harris’ satirical thriller too. But I don’t think anyone has yet matched that other Blair, Eric, in capturing what it’s like to watch a Blair speech:

His voice had grown almost dreamy. The exaltation, the lunatic enthusiasm, was still in his face. He is not pretending, thought Winston, he is not a hypocrite, he believes every word he says.