A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

The play is by Tanika Gupta and is based on the bestselling novel by Marina Lewyka. It’s a mixture of comedy, sadness, present life in the UK and memories of a grim former life in the Ukrain. Centred around the main character, 84 year old widower Nikolai, who is spending his time writing a short history of tractors in Ukrainian. Poulner Players have found a little gem of a play and Sally Whyte as director has worked her magic.

The set is good and works well as the farm house, which is furnished just right. The stage crew work quickly with slight adjustments from one scene to another. There is even a change of cooker. There is a garden cemetery area to one side with a tree. Lighting and sound are also good. The use of Ukrainian music also helps to set the scene. There is lots of attention to detail.

Nikolai is retired and has two daughters, Vera and Nadezhda, who haven’t spoken since their mother died. He is besotted by Valentina a new wife in waiting from the Ukrain, who is a 36 year old gold digger out for herself to get a British visa and a better education for her son. She is slowly using up Nikolai’s money with new cars, breast enlargements and home improvements. Peter Ansell is excellent in the role, his comic timing and great acting skills make him just right for the part.

The daughters played by Teresa Miller and Julie Lax work very well together & come together to help protect their father from Valentina, who is waiting for her divorce to come through so she can marry Nikolai. Having various affairs and fleecing him along the way. He just wants happiness and only see’s the good in her to start off with and he doesn’t like it that his daughters are interfering with his love life.

The other side of the story see’s Nikolai’s deceased first wife Ludmilla, as a ghost narrator telling how they met and married and the famine and suffering. Marina Brown-Smith is lovely in the role. The rest of the cast -  too many names to single any one person out, play various roles and the villagers, acting, dancing and singing. The costumes are very good. They all help to get the story across. They take part with telling the poems about the tractors which have very witty verses.  I also really liked the puppets.

Dave Lakin is likeable as Nadezha’s husband, and Charlie Lakin is great as Stanislav the son of Valentina. Alla Mills takes the role of Valentina, she has so many different sides to play in a demanding role she is sexy, feisty and very nasty at times, and she is very good in her part.

The play has a good ending with Valentina now expecting a baby from one of her affairs going back to her first husband, with her son, and Nikolai going into a flat where his daughters can keep an eye on him. All the cast have worked hard to put on a great play.

Well done everyone.

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