Ladies Day

LADIES' DAY

by Amanda Whittington

Presented by Audley Theatre Wednesday 16th May 2018

 

Imagine the dreary drudgery of day to day work on the assembly line, 'living the dream' not! Hoping beyond hope that one day life will change for the better.

Four female fish packing friends, fiendishly filleting fish, talking about the previous evenings dinner and the latest developments in the soaps; actively ribbing and bawdily taking the mickey.

We meet Pearl, Kate Quick on the verge of semi retirement and definitely not wanting a fuss about it.

Jan, Melanie Madew; a doting mother, uncertain what the future may bring as she cuts the apron strings packing her beloved daughter off to University.

Linda the sweetest most ardent Tony Christie fan ever, Chelsea Ann Taylor

The brash, showy Shelley, Heidi Condliffe; almost steals the show, is played just to the right side of not doing so, thus empowering all of the strong cast to shine equally. They really gel and work well together.

A special mention also to Phil Quick covering three male parts Joe, Fred, and Kevin admirably. With Paul Sammons playing Jim. Supported by Patrick, the ever hungry Irish jockey Ben Butler; together with a wonderfully poignant Barry from Bryan Williams.

Pearl makes a spur of the moment decision to take advantage of the fact that in 2005 the Royal Ascot meeting relocated to York. The foursome, dressed to impress, head to the races for Ladies' Day.

Against all the odds the quartet not only gain admission to the enclosure, they almost complete the Tote jackpot! As they embark on their champagne fuelled day, secrets and revelations are hilariously revealed.

Thus allowing us to see beneath the wafer thin veneer of their normal day to day lives. Giving us incites into deeply emotional moments of disappointment, sheer heartache, vulnerability, dashed ambitions and all tinged with colourful language and innuendo.

Directed by Wendy Brough, there was a wonderful finesse to the whole show, bringing the best from the wickedly funny script and Thespians alike, great use of the auditorium. Simple set, well lit, we heard every word.

This is brilliant observational character driven comedy at its best by Amanda Whittington, the cast's thoughtful performances really emphasisied belief and reality in the unseen day to day lives of their characters - It certainly made my day.

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