This play tries to be a reflection of the times and tell a story of women emerging into the all male world of the theatre. The time is the 1600s with King Charles II on the throne, he has a playhouse for his amusement, an apt name for the place. This play tells the story of six women drawn to the establishment by the money and notoriety. Mrs Betterton, wife of Thomas, the actor-manager tries to manage and look after the interests and wellbeing of the women in the company. The women seem to come from the street and go back to the street as the play progresses. Their adventures all rebound round affluent men attending the playhouse in the company of the king, and their quest to become shareholders in the theatre company, thereby increasing their income and stature. This play tells the story of Mrs Nell Gwyn who sold oranges on the streets until she conned her way into the acting profession by showing her legs to the men on the stage. The play travels through her years of being kept by the king until his death, and her encounters with her fellow actresses.

The writer is April De Angelis and the director is John Tiffany. The set design by Neil Warmington depicting the presidium arch of a theatre and dressing room is imaginatively manipulated and displayed for the use of the actors. Sandra Voe gives a great performance as the general factotum Doll Common and the sixteen year old Nell Gwen is admirable played by Abby Ford. Joanne Froggatt plays Mrs Farley, Frances Grey Mrs Marshall and Pauline Lockart Mrs Barry. Susan Wooldridge plays the older Mrs Betterton, whose delivery of words gives ample scope for Nell Gwyn to try to copy her word “fork” for laughs.

So what of this play? It gives adequate interpretation of the life and times of a story, already well known, from a woman’s point of view. Best summed up by the polite applause at the end for a pleasent evening at the theatre. © BA

“Playhouse Creatures” is in Leeds from the 4th April until the 10th May, 2003.