The Matchgirls

I have never seen this play, and was not surprised that S.O.D.S. have pulled off another prospective winner after their last success with David Copperfield, for which they won the best NODA Play award. This play was written by Compo (in other words Bill Owen).

We were greeted by truly authentic scenery and costumes of the Victorian l988s and their opening number “Phosphorus” tells of the woes of working with this dreadful substance while making the match tops at the Bryant and May Factory. Can we imagine what it was like with fourteen-hour work days, poor pay, excessive fines and of course the health complications. Circumstances led to the dismissal of one of the girls which prompted the decision to strike.

We see various families of matchgirls and dockers, and how they were affected. The two sweethearts Kate and Joe were played by Jo Jones and Michael Jewell, and  their duet “Something about you” was lovely. All the musical numbers were toe-tapping, catchy and reminiscent of “Half a Sixpence” or “Me and My Girl”. Other principal parts were excellently played, including David Vince as both the Foreman Mynel and George Bernard Shaw.  Karen Long as Polly never fails in her roles and this was no exception.

To sum up, we felt quite emotional towards these matchgirls and dockers when they were singing “We’re gonna show em” and “La di dah” and the finale song “Life of Mine” took us out with a nice warm feeling. Well done to all those who provided the props all of the period, and for the “experts” who built the scenery. 

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