Bad Girls, The Musical

Based on the television series “Bad Girls” – which was set in a women’s prison, Larkhall, this is not a show for the faint hearted as it contains a considerable amount of adult raunchy material.

Impressive moving projected backgrounds, complete with riot scenes and good sound effects of prison doors clanking shut, made all the scene changes very slick

The inmates ranged from petty criminals, violent criminals, prostitutes and drug dealers.   Their struggles for power, inner feelings, and friendships were well conveyed by an all round talented cast, which produced very good production of this not so well known musical.   Casting was excellent in all the main parts, both singing and acting being very good, each of the inmates having a different story to relate.   Paul Deakin played Jim Fenner, the Principal Officer, a very nasty character who takes new girl Rachel (Vicki Kimpton) under his wing. (She eventually commits suicide.)  Wendy Breeze played Sylvia Hollanby the Senior Prison Officer.   Both Paul and Wendy played their characters with conviction

Mention must be made of Kira Matthews (Julie Saunders) who gave a heart rendering performance when talking to her son on the telephone – he did not know she was in prison.   Good performances also came from Kath Walton (Crystal Gordon), Abbey Evans (Yvonne Atkins) and Rachel Mullock as Nikki Wade, the “lifer”.

All the principal “inmates” were well characterised and they were backed-up by a disciplined Company.

The show was well staged with tremendous pace from beginning to end and it had the right balance between comedy and its serious subject matter.  The musical numbers were performed brilliantly, especially the comedy one, and particularly the big tap number with all the company performing as warders in wigs and sparkly costumes.

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