Blue Stockings

Bolton Little Theatre takes on Jessica Swales’s first play Blue Stockings. Set at the Collage of Cambridge, Girton the first UK College to offer University level education for women and the fight that the women and some of the men had to take on. The misogyny that they experienced and also violence was sometimes difficult to watch and a lesson in what the women had to go through to get an education. When they first started their school they were not allowed to get a degree, from championing women in 1878 they were not allowed to gain a degree until 1948 when the College was admitted into the University, which today sounds shocking. This play was originally directed by Sandra Simpson who was also on the play committee and chose the play. Sandra sadly passed away during rehearsals and in her memory the cast carried on with Peter Scofield who was also one of the 19 members of the cast taking on the role Director.

Blue Stockings was a gathering where women could talk about politics, which women were banned from doing in public - this was started in the 1750’s by Elizabeth Montagu, a British social reformer from York. The term was then a social ostracism of being a ‘blue stocking’ as it was deemed unnatural for a woman to be educated. 

The cast performed in the smaller space of the Forge - a studio setting with three entrances and minimal set. A pair of bookshelves rested in the alcoves and used in the library scene. The wall between the two entrances had cut off stairs that were used for seating.  A bench was then used for various scenes and an old fashioned bike was ridden off stage with an unfortunate ending (part of the script). Various chairs and tables were brought on for the café, the shop and library - I liked the stage crew were dressed to match, making it flow. Banners were then released in a roll and the cast came on with placards at the end to give us further information. Set Builders Jolyon Coombs, Jeff Lunt, Andrew Gradwell, Steve Butler, Sarah Khalmeeree and Becki Thornton. Stage Manager Jim Smith who also played Mr Peck (a Gardener) and husband in the café and Assistant Stage Manager was James Casterton. Props were Dorothy Green, Viv Bloomfield and Kath Cheetham. I did have a thought that Mr Banks’ satchel looked empty and could have been padded out - such detail was nevertheless present in all other props.

Lighting and Sound all helped with the feel by Jeff Lunt, Stuart O’Hara and James Walton.

The costumes looked great and the fact it was fully dressed against the minimalist set really worked. I did have my eyes distracted by the French manicures on a couple of the girls though. Wardrobe by Lorraine Parry, Jennifer Lee, Janet Hardman and Sue Taylor.

As I said before, Peter Scofield took on the role of Director at short notice and played the part of Doctor Maudsley, a renowned psychiatrist whose contempt of women left nothing to the imagination with his fabulously inaccurate explanation of hysteria, which elicited gasps from the audience - including me! He also played Professor. Collins a Trinity Lecturer complete with Scottish accent - great characters!

As it is such a large cast, I will pick out a few to mention. Professor Anderson was played by Andrew Gradwell. Professor Radleigh was played by Gareth Preston. Librarian and Maid in café by Heidi Winrow. Minnie (The housemaid) and Lady in Café were played by Laura Bottomley. The chaotic Ralph Mayhew was played by Tom Wilson. The misogynistic Lloyd played by John Haslam.

Jennifer Lee had killer one liners like “keep 30 inches apart” and “They think I was born yesterday” which got the intended laughs from the audience and me, she also took on the role of Mrs Lindley (a shopkeeper).  “The only thing a woman can own is knowledge” The line was delivered by Elizabeth Welsh, Mistress of Girton played by Frances Clemmitt, who gave a considered performance of a woman who must think with her head not her heart. It came across her passion for women in education whilst not trying to rock to many boats to get the end results - well done!

Holmes (a Trinity boy) played by Connor Beckwith, one of the only boys to apologise to the girls and Edwards played by Ashley Foster - both at times I could see the turmoil they were going through with their body language and facial expressions when the group were against the girls but they wanted to be one of the boys. It was uncomfortable as it should have been - well played!

Miss Blake (a lecturer at Girton) was played by Abbie Jones. Miss Blake was not afraid to go with her heart and was involved secretly with the suffragette movement and it was evident she wanted to fire up her students to have a passion about the movement and their education. Clearly ahead of her time.

Maeve Sullivan (A Girton Girl) played by Catherine Cropper complete with Irish accent was clearly not from a wealthy family and had a sponsorship to the College and you could see her turmoil at stepping out of her box and wanting something new. It was even more heart wrenching when the decision was taken away from her and she had to return to her family. Having tasted the education system and clearly a bright young woman her pleading was hard to watch, making you realise about the struggles women had to go through.

Anna Tomkinson played another Girton girl Tess Moffatt, who starts with all the ideals of an educated woman wanting more and gets her head turned by love. The question is asked in the play to women “Would you choose education or love?” She is unlike Maeve given a second chance to return. Her friendship with Will Bennett (a Kings boy) played by Jordan Rising is complicated. They know each other from home and at first Will tires to hide he knows her. Jordan played this well having to bite his tongue and realising his love for her was far too late.  His body language conveyed this successfully.

Rebecca Carney took on the role of another of the Girton girls Carolyn Addison. Carolyn clearly wealthy and well-travelled, there was nowhere she had not been or had tried. Rebecca played with part with vigour and ease and it was just the right note as the girls clearly loved her despite her boasting. Great energy. Her friend Celia Willbond played by Eleanor Maxwell was a softer character. She presented as a nervous but very supportive friend - as an actor Eleanor had great listening skills and when not involved in the dialogue was always present in the scene. Making her an engaging character I thought and very watchable.

Andrew Cropper took on two roles as Mr Banks (a lecturer at Girton and Trinity), a feminist ahead of his time - his feet in both camps of the Universities, this clearly would not work and although the pressure from the pompous Trinity Dons and the attempt of inducement, he stuck to his guns. His manner and demeanour worked well for this character. While appearing chaotic he was focused. Andrew also played Maeves’s misogynist brother Billy Sullivan again with Irish accent. A complete change of character he was intimidating and had no time for women’s thoughts or opinions. Excellent.

Sandra would have been delighted with this production as must BLT be and a lesson for women to use your vote - we have come so far and self-assured women are appreciated.  Thank you so much for the invite from my guest Angela and I.

Liz Hume-Dawson

D5 Rep

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.