REVIEWS REVIEWS
This is a story of four women who metaphorisise from the non feminine attire of a fish processing factory in Hull to become the fashion conscious ladies at York's Royal Ascot meeting. Why does it work? It is superbly written by Amanda Whittington, who gets the pace just right, the plot has many facets and the acting is just great. It is refreshing to see a play that produces laughs from its audience without reverting to the modern obscenities to achieve this. Non of this would be possible without the meaningful direction of Gareth Tudor Price and the functional set designed by Richard Foxton.
Nothing is less flattering for women than the protective clothing required to undertake tasks in the food industry and that is what we see when we meet the main characters. Linda (Lucy Beaumont), a small girl with an obsession, Jan (Sue McCormick), a round girl with a child and a vanished husband, Pearl (Annie Sawle), about to retire to her family with a secret and Shelley (Jemma Walker), a leggy blond struggling to make ends meet in her daily toil. They are managed by Martin Barrass who plays all the male characters, whether it be the TV pundit resembling someone whose cloths are outlandish, to a jockey or a recalled past romance. It is impossible to pick someone out because they are all faultless in their interpretations of their characters. Some of the scenes are funny, others poignant and deep, a complete seamless mix of superbly written interchange. You will hear every word of diction, way beyond that heard on some of the so called prestigious stages and production companies.
To give you the flavour, the women fancy a day out at the races, all for different reasons and they finish up in York at the one off Royal Ascot meeting. They are completely unprepared for what they encounter, but they triumph over all the sophistication of the event whilst revealing their stories in the process. Now you will have to go and see this out of the ordinary play for there is nothing more to be gained here.
The play is superb, the acting is superb, the evening will be a superb night out if you make the effort to make a trip to the theatre. ItÕs worth travelling miles to see as some did. There, it's been said again in a different way. Let's use another word, marvellous. Miss it at your own risk. © BA
“Ladies' Day” is in Hull at the Hull Truck Theatre from the 2nd June, 2005 to the 25th June, 2005. Car parking charge £1. This is a No Smoking theatre.
