Bad Girls - the Musical

This musical is based on characters from the early televised series of “Bad Girls”. Set in the fictional HMP Larkhall, it’s the story of the new idealistic Wing Governor Helen Stewart (played by Jodie Schweikhardt) and her battles with the entrenched old guard of Officer Jim Fenner (played by Andrew “PJ” Canham) and his colleague Sylvia Hollamby (played by Jane Moss). Paul Coleman’s detailed direction brought out strong characterisation from the large cast of “detainees”, focussing on their inadequacies as human beings and the methods they resorted to in order to help them cope with their incarceration. The scene in which the Wing Governor and prisoner NikKi Wade (played by Anita Heaton) conveyed their feelings for each other with a kiss was most beautifully staged. The songs included quietly reflective ones as well as full chorus numbers with exciting choreography; all provided with appropriate accompaniments from the competent musicians under the direction of Lynne Loose. The set was effective in establishing confinement and there was excellent use of sound, lighting and projection graphics in this production. Speedy and efficient support was provided by the stage crew. Although this musical does not fit the dictionary definition of entertainment, it served to strongly support the view that the prison system doesn’t reform, it just dehumanises. I found it somewhat perplexing that at the point in this play where a new prisoner was about to be sexually abused, several of the audience (predominantly female) laughed. Strange? 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.