The Cardigirls

This new comedy play with music by Allan and Janet Scott is another masterpiece in their repertoire of stories based on local events. This one is about the lives and tribulations of the staff in a small knitwear factory over the period of one year and is set in 1971.

The cast in this show is almost always on stage apart from two characters who have a short respite and they encapsulated the spirit of the workplace and the camaraderie and banter that the familiarity of working together brings out. The characters in this production all have their own stories to tell and we hear from them as the year progresses, with the changes to their lives and what it has to offer.

Jim Roberts (Tommy Thomson) the owner of the factory is constantly worried about the business and what is in the future, The order book, the staff, the building etc. Ibby Wilson, excellently played by Stephanie Drummond, wants more out of life than working in a factory week in, week out. Pamela Reid (Rebecca Beck), Jim’s niece, comes to work for work experience before heading off to Uni, and strikes up a relationship with Kenny Dunlop (Gavin Millar), and this develops throughout the year. Nettie and Billy Witherspoon, (Kay Potts and Jim Gordon) who have worked in the factory all their working life, look forward to their summer holidays and their first venture abroad to Benidorm. Mrs Moore (Cath Monk) just gets on with it all and comes out with some lovely anecdotes about her past life. Babs Sutherland and Linda McTurk played by Alison Murdoch and Liz Black, tell us of their wishes and what they want out of life. Robbo McGuffog superbly played by Brian McArthur, is a ladies’ man (or so he thinks) and a bit of a Jack the Lad keeps us smiling with his stories and impressions,  

Musically this show was excellent with home grown songs and music superbly sung by the cast and the dialogue was delivered naturally as easy as conversation, without having to stress any particular emotion which all came out in the ease of delivery. We watched and listened to the workforce tell us of what they are all looking for as their relationships all develop. There were specific items of note and it was great to see how they all pulled together in support of each other and for the business. A near fire in the factory, caught in time by Jim, makes him realise that the building is getting old and needs cash to bring it up to date.  Billy has a heart attack and doesn’t pull through and we see the workmates pull together and support Nettie through this traumatic period of her life. Ibby’s hobby of clothes designing is the catalyst to get everyone motivated to produce a new line which they take to a fashion show and receive fresh orders for the factory to keep it going. All this happens as the year progresses and by the end of the year a whole new turn of events, Jim decides to retire and take on Billy’s job of caretaker, Pamela and Kenny get engaged and she decides not to go to Uni but to stay and take over the business. Ibby is promoted to chief designer and life goes on for the remainder of the staff.

The set was terrific with the hustle and bustle of the different departments all interacting and the special effects of the electrical fire etc was super. We were also always kept up to date as the year progressed with updates on the back projections as the year moved on.

A close knit, well-rehearsed company who performed this show in their usual excellent style and I was more than thoroughly impressed by their performances.

Congratulations, to Allan and Janet for another brilliant production brought to life by the excellent casting. Thank you!!.

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