Ladies Down Under

Ladies Down Under by Amanda Whittington is a sequel to the highly successful play Ladies’ Day, which was produced at this venue last year. It tells the tale of the four fish filleters who had a big joint win at the races, and how they all have differing priorities. They set off on a four week holiday to Australia together. Pearl, the oldest, is seeking life affirmation, Jan is meeting up with a boyfriend, Linda (played well by Nancy Hudson, a newcomer to the society) doesn’t really know why she’s going, and Shelley just wants to live the high life while her money lasts.

Retford Little Theatre is a lovely place, owned and run by the society, and entirely staffed by volunteers. The ambience is friendly and the shows are obviously popular with the locals, because even on this night when in opposition to TV’s Strictly Come Dancing there was a reasonable house. The programme that I was given was a simple three-fold layout, with all of the necessary information to hand.

Liz Williams’ experience as a director was obvious, with entrances, exits and scene changes well-planned and executed. Like many societies, Retford suffer to some extent from a shortage of male actors, so the men in the cast, particularly Mark Thornton and Alex Nicol  had to do a fair amount of doubling up – and how well they did it too, moving from Australian beach bums to camp air stewards to jolly swagmen to glamorous drag queens and doing all of the roles really well.

The ladies were all well-cast in their parts. Angela Ingall was particularly touching as the oldest of the foursome, facing a life-changing diagnosis but determined to survive. Jayne Cox as the unlucky-in-love Jan, apparently let down by the latest man in her life, and rather bewildered by the way things turn out. Nancy Hudson played the naïve Linda, not sure what to do with her newfound riches except to help others less fortunate. Sarah Mullins was great as the brash Shelley, determined to Spend Spend Spend in an effort to find happiness and eventually finding that happiness might not come as a result of money.

Simon Warner played Joe well, the boyfriend who gets lost and then found. Alan Mitchell played a lovely cameo part, the ageing hippy hooked on marijuana and despising the materialistic world.

The sets were generally minimalist, allowing the audience to use their imagination. However the painting of Ayres Rock (Uhluru) was excellent, and at one time when the lights were dimmed and brought up slowly, the effect of dawn over the mountain was well simulated – I know because I’ve been there!

Maxine Goldstone is an experienced stage manager, and it showed. Did I spot her at the check-in desk at the airport making a sneaky appearance?

Sound and lighting were good and well managed.

Overall a good production and well worth missing Strictly for!

 

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