Blue Stockings

Entering the venue, you're greeted with a library setting and blackboard covering Newtons Three laws of Motion. This was an excellent entre into the academic environment the play is set in.

A hiss of steam entering the stage from scholars alighting from trains, arriving for a new term, this nicely ushered in the cast.

Initial thoughts were that the early scenes were bitty, a scene change involving seating, desks, lecterns etc for a few lines of dialogue before the next scene change involving said furniture or variations thereof for another couple of lines of dialogue seemed to bog down the play initially.

This could of course be as written, as I haven't seen the script.

However, the action when it became more sustained was engrossing. All characters were well versed and convincingly appointed with the technical theologies and sciences they discussed.

The underlying darkness of the misogynistic gender inequality was merely skirted over at this point this simmered and built very nicely to a violent climax that possibly shocked a few of the audience.

The cast handled the dialogue very well, costumes made in house were excellent although accessories seemed to have been forgone. I'm sure, although I stand to be corrected, that gloves and hats were de rigeur for ladies at this time. One gentleman reading a newspaper in a teashop was also jacket-less which was certainly not acceptable in this period.

The language tended to be modernised as well. I'm not sure if it is written thusly or has been adapted for present day understanding.

This was on the surface, a gentle and genteel period piece looking at the acceptance or lack therof of allowing the further education of women. It was and is starkly contemporary, thinking about recent news abroad of female persecution for wanting education. Very thought provoking indeed.

The sound was excellent – purely effects and music, voices were naturally projected and easily heard. Lighting too was modest but effective.

Overall a interesting play, this near history is not generally known other than from dramas on TV which would concentrate there story lines elsewhere.

 

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