Ladies' Day

This play, written by Amanda Whittington, has a good plot, lots of twists and turns along the way with some very funny lines and likeable characters. Louise Dibden has an excellent cast to work with in this likeable play. There is great chemistry between the whole cast. The set is simple and colourful this works very well. I loved the fish they were very lifelike.

Set around four fish-packers from Hull who decides to go to the Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot while it was held at York racecourse, due to it being refurbished, for Pearl’s leaving do. 

Pearl is nicely played by Jenny Green, a very strong character, and is totally believable as Pearl. She keeps us all believing that she is not retiring just “leaving”. Pearl keeps them all together, she has a fondness for the others and tries to give them help and advice when she can. The champagne starts flowing, and she confides in Jan telling her she has been seeing someone for the last seven years.

Jan, played by Tracy Davis, also has a good character to play. Since her husband left, she has lived her life through her daughter but she is going off to university soon. The others keep telling Jan to get her life back and the only man that she has taken a shine to is a workmate Joe, but she has just found out that he is leaving for Australia soon. She plays a good drunk and spills the beans on Pearl.

Shelley, played by Hannah Marks, is a larger than life, confident girl up for a laugh and joke, but always gets herself into some bother or another. She wants to make something of herself and is always on the lookout for her next challenge. Hannah is very good in her role, showing that she is also a vulnerable girl.

Linda is a kind simple girl, who often gets put on by her mother. Her love of Tony Christie runs throughout the play as, luckily for the Ladies, there is a horse running in each race with a Tony song title in it. Donna West is ideal in the part of Linda and is a very likeable and happy person. There is a great funny scene when Linda meets the Jockey Patrick - that came over very well. Jack Barnett was the Jockey with a good Irish ascent.

Other men in the cast doubled up with some of the characters and they all did well with the roles. Steve Davis played Joe & Kevin, Neville Green played Fred & Barry, and Richard Barnett played Fred.

I was really looking forward to seeing this play and I wasn’t disappointed, I liked the Tony Christie songs being played. The play came across very well and everyone in the audience enjoyed it. Well done to everyone evolved in the production.
 

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