The Steamie

Resonant of 1950 attitudes to life, work and women, this production clearly brought out the harshness of the four women’s lives with pithy humour. The four women gelled well together revealing compassion and manners that speaks to the audience. Annie Townsend was a scream as Dolly, especially in the moments where she believed she was actually having a phone conversation and where she undressed to wash behind the sheet!  She brought out both the irritating naivety of the character and her humanity in helping the older woman. Kate Halliday as the elderly woman Mrs Culfeathers caught a nice balance between her character’s simplicity, especially in the mince episode, and the loneliness of a woman at Hogmanay whose family was far away. The feisty one of the four was Magrit played commandingly by Lynne Hurst. She captured the down-to- earth brusqueness of her role, and deftly delivered her caustic comments. The young housewife was played refreshingly by Suzanne Smail bringing out her respect for others and taking the drama on to dreams of the future.  Craig Potter, the only man in the play as handyman ‘Big’ Andy, gave a convincing performance of a little man wanting to be big.  All actors displayed apt comic timing and sang with conviction. The production touches like having other women walking behind and steam coming over the top ensured an authentic feel. But the other star in the show was the set: the tiled walls, the large notices, the four washing stalls, the big white sinks, the soap boxes, the pram, cart - all transported the audience to another era before a word was spoken.  This was a fine production. Congratulations to all.

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