A BRIEF HISTORY OF WOMEN

A delightful evening at The Inn on the Park, always an atmospheric setting, and the largest audience I have seen there in recent years. 

It was a very brave decision by Breakaway and the Director to stage this particular play in the open air, as a lot hinged on the difference to the house over the years.  I liked the use of the house sign to signify the year and type of establishment.

A difficult review to write, as there were so many different characters, played by a core of good actors, but on the whole I felt that everyone performed well, giving the right consideration to the type of person they were playing, making it a good evening’s entertainment.

The constant throughout the play was Anthony Spates (Malcolm Coakley), a temporary butler, schoolteacher, theatre caretaker, and finally General Manager of a residential hotel.  All situations influenced by his relationship with three women he came in contact with.  He kept the continuity of his character throughout.

Scene 1 – 1925.  Lord Edward Kirkbridge (Simon Ellis), a country squire with very firm views on women, a very ebullient, loud and opinionated man, delivering many non-PC views (by today’s standards), causing much wry laughter from the audience, and the occasional expression of disbelief!  Good characterisation.

Lady Caroline (Lesley Cowland), showed her acceptance of the abuse meted out, but showing a spark of kittenish behaviour when starting a relationship with Spates.  Very true to that type of woman.

Lady Cynthia (Jo Baker), was really full on, the consummate hostess, welcoming us to her engagement party, an excellent portrayal.

Fergus Ffluke (Benedict Gaskin) and his mother Rowena (Anne Hollis), were played very well, giving reality to the situation, a very good pairing.

Scene 2 -1945, showed the house as a school.  There were a few overlong pauses between entrances for different parts of the tale, but I found the teachers very good in their portrayals, Simon Ellis as the Headmaster, Jo Baker as Spates girlfriend Ursula, Desmond (David Martin), with Shelley Healy and Elaine Hartless as Phoebe and Eva,  Very shocking end to this scene, very well handled by all.

1965 – the house became a theatrical venue.  Simon Ellis was Dennis, having a relationship with Pat (Elaine Hartless), and Shelley Healy as the stage crew, very sullen and sulky!!  Margie Skinner played Dennis’s wife Gillian, who’d been allocated the part of the front legs of the cow!  She found out about the affair and encouraged Spates to be her back legs, and this led to marriage. 

1985 – the house became a hotel, where Spates and Caroline renewed their acquaintance and showed that Caroline still had a twinkle in her eye despite being well over 90!!  A very sympathetic performance from Lesley.  Jo Baker as Tilly, Caroline’s great granddaughter, again created a whirlwind of a female.  David Martin completed the line-up as the porter.

I was entertained, there were many laughs, which were the product of well-delivered lines from the cast.

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