Getting the Lead

“Getting the Lead” is a play with music, set in 1862, when the terminal decline of the lead mining industry in Upper Wharfedale was becoming apparent. Life was becoming unbelievably hard and villagers were beginning to drift away. Despite the hardship, the villagers loved to sing and had a flourishing brass band.
The play was written, designed and directed by Grassington Players member, Andrew Jackson, who also managed to find time to act in the play ! And what an amazing job Andrew has done to create a heart warming, uplifting story about such difficult times. His simple set design, with highly effective use of lighting, created a dark atmospheric view of life in the mining community. Full credit to the lighting team of Lewis Horton and David Pye.
The play involved a large cast, some with little acting experience and most with any singing experience. By their own admission, Grassington Players are not a musical society and yet they  managed incredibly well some very difficult traditional folk songs, with excellent harmonies. Musical Director, Bella Kidd, must take some of the credit for that.
There were so many elements to this production that helped accurately evoke this period of history that should be mentioned : authentic looking costumes, complete with string to hold up the trousers (Christine Dawson, Briony Garety & Angela Colquhoun, Angela was also responsible for the makeup, a challenging task in itself), props – how on earth did you source the authentic mining and farming implements? Well done Mary Wilkinson and Maddie Pye, sound effects by John Jameson and David Pye.
The play basically tells the story of two families – the Oldroyds and the Sykes’s, bitterly divided but eventually united by love. Zarina Belk and Andrew Jackson, as Will and Martha Oldroyd, and Peter Lindsay and Paula Vickers, as Obadiah and Sarah Sykes, represented the older, traditional members of the community, stuck in their ways. Each of them brought their rich experience to the parts, playing them with honesty and warmth. The love interest of the families – Jack Fitzsimmons (Adam Oldroyd) and Katie Milner (Ellen Sykes) were a delight as their relationship blossomed against all the odds. Special mention to Tyler Wells, as Will Oldroyd – the narrator of the play, who despite his young years held the play together.
Beyond the 2 families there were a number of other characters who were involved in the tale –
:  Mark Bamforth, as Henry Bennett, the mines overseer – a wonderful Victorian villain, John Anderson, as the local Rector, Peter Lindsay, the preacher and Jane Ellison-Bates as Tess.
Also, very well done to the chorus/choir of miners and gossips – I love the pantomimic scene with the 2 groups of gossipers.
There were some opening-night issues but given the problems the Society had in the days before that, it was hardly surprising. I’m sure they got ironed out by the next performance.
Thank you for a enjoyable and educational evening’s entertainment.

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