Top Girls
Information
- Date
- 24th October 2024
- Society
- Swan Theatre Amateur Company
- Venue
- The Swan Theatre Studio
- Type of Production
- Play
- Director
- Janet Bright
- Written By
- Caryl Churchill
It was my great pleasure to attend the first STAC production since the company recently became NODA members.
Set in the early 1980s, Top Girls depicts the lifestyle and life choices of its central character, Marlene. She is a successful career woman, who has just received a major promotion, and has unequivocally fought her way to the top. Famously using iconic female, historical figures, the play explores the realities of being female and the potential price of achieving success.
A simple set as necessitated by the Swan Studio space, depicted 3 restaurant tables ready for a meal. In scene 1 Marlene (Mel Glasson) the host, welcomes her historic guests; Isabella Bird (Rebecca Sharp) an avid explorer from the 19th century, Pope Joan (Len Fry) a legendary English woman believed to have disguised herself as a man in the 9th century; Lady Nijo (Jenny Cheong) a concubine to the Emperor of Japan in the 13th century; Dull Gret (Caroline Naisbitt); the subject of Brueghel’s famous painting depicting a woman in armour leading an army of women; and Patient Griselda (Demi Savva) based on the obedient wife in the ‘Clerk’s Tale’ from Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’.
Without exception the standard of acting throughout this scene and the remainder of the play was excellent. The pace was good and at intervals the dialogue crossed over each actor in a very natural way. I was at first surprised that the entire meal served and cleared by waiter James Burton, was simply empty plates and glasses, but soon paid little attention to this given the strong stories that each guest described, reflecting on what being a female meant for them in their own time.
In Act 2 Scene 1 we are introduced to Joyce (Rebecca Sharp) and Angie (Demi Savva). Although their relationship is not great Joyce treats Angie as her daughter. In-fact from Act 2 onwards the actors change roles and in Scene 2 become co-workers, clients and relatives, based around the setting of the ‘Top Girls’ employment agency. There were several instances where a client, later in the scene became the interviewer, involving a quick change of costume and characterisation, all extremely well handled. Judgements regarding employability based on being a woman become evident.
Later in Act 3 we return to Joyce’s home when Angie has dragged Marlene (Joyce’s sister) to visit. It becomes clear that Marlene’s professional success has irreparably damaged her personal life. Her relationship with her sister is strained and distant. There were some gripping conversations throughout the play but none better that the exchange between Sharp and Glasson when recalling the truth about Angie’s mother.
Direction by Janet Bright was first class and I look forward to the double bill of ‘Last Tango in Littler Grimley’ and ‘The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley’ next March when STAC with its predecessors The Society for Advancement of Music and Drama (S.A.M.A.) will in 2025 enjoy its 80th anniversary.
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