Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society : Ladies Down Under Review

DOWN UNDER PROVES TOP NOTCH

Once again, Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society served up a theatrical feast for their packed houses, demonstrating their ability to provide entertainment of the highest order, thanks to a sharp script, splendid acting, and masterly direction.

Ladies Down Under by Amanda Whittington is a sequel to Ladies Day (presented at The Playhouse three years ago), although it also stands as a play in its own right. In it, the four Hull fish-packers are splashing some of the cash won at the races on a trip to Australia, and the script allows for more character and plot development as the girls come to terms with their new-found wealth and deal with the consequences.

Although ostensibly a comedy, this play offers a far more penetrating look at life than the original, and it is to the enormous credit of cast and director that they balanced all the emotional subtleties of the piece so well. The laughs are loud, but they never eclipse the reflection and growing self-awarenes.

The four leads reprised their roles from Ladies Day, and gave a virtuoso display of team acting; the well-drawn and acutely-observed characters worked effortlessly with each other, and their reactions and interplay were a constant delight.

Linda Harvey revelled in the role of Pearl, the mother-figure to the group, providing stability and common sense. Linda skilfully showed us Pearl's loss of confidence as she came to terms with her illness and faced up to the future. A nuanced performance of depth and quality.
	Shelley is the spendthrift 'good time girl' who can manage neither her money nor her life, and Rachel Smith attacked the role with relish. Sparks really flew in her spats with Pearl as they played out a clash of wills and cultures. Later, during her scenes with Danny the Traveller, Rachel cleverly showed us a more vulnerable aspect of Shelley's character.
Jo Jefferson's comic timing was on top form as she played Jan to the hilt; her fear of flying (and just about everything else) was echoed by her fear of commitment to her relationship with Joe the Supervisor, and their cautious courting scene was another highlight.
	As Linda, the girl who had most difficulty dealing with the money, Debbie Forsyth showed us someone apparently naïve and innocent on the surface, but possessing a strong moral code. Her judgements on modern values were surprisingly deep and insightful.
Also reprising his role from Ladies Day was Stephen Rouse as Joe the Fish-Plant Supervisor who'd gone for a year's sabbatical to Oz only to be disillusioned by the experience. Steve has great stage presence, and he showed us Joe's hidden depths as he struggled to express his feelings for Jan.
	Tom Barber has impressed on his previous outings at The Playhouse, and this was no exception. As Danny the Traveller, he gave us an assured and confident portrayal of an individual who had found inner peace, and who was comfortable with the world. And he also produced a delicious, very authentic-sounding Aussie accent!
Peter Buller and Keith Burton delivered a sparkling comic turn as two flight attendants whose pre-flight briefing told us what the cabin staff are probably thinking about the passengers but dare not voice: the scene struck a chord with anyone who's ever been told where the aircraft exits are.
	Peter appeared later as one of two drag queens at the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras. Looking stunning in six-inch high heels and a gold lame outfit, he failed to convince anyone that he looked anything like Kylie Minogue – another scene-stealing performance that had the audiences in stitches.
The other drag queen was flamboyantly played by Ben Derrick, who threw himself into the role. He showed amazing poise and confidence in a wickedly-delivered monologue where he harangued the audience to their obvious glee.
	Earlier, Ben appeared as Shane the Surfer, a totally contrasting role as a mystic surfer who lived only for the waves – Ben went from Butch to Bitch in a matter of minutes!
Nevin Ward was Charlie, an aristocratic hippie left over from the sixties, whose spliff-induced antics had at least one audience member convinced that he really was stoned. He also appeared as Tom the Fireman, sporting another fine Aussie accent.

The simple set was dressed sufficiently to provide detail about the scene without ever intruding, helped by a superb backcloth of Uluru (Ayers Rock to you and me) painted by Charles Nicholson, inventive graphics and atmospheric lighting by Heather Appleton, expertly-managed sound from Phil Penten, and slick scene changes from Alan Stewart and his backstage crew.

Christine Ward's overall vision for the production was evident throughout, and her pacey direction pulled everything together. Add the Playhouse's usual high production values, excellent acting underpinned by four superb central performances, and you have a great night out.

You can pay £30 for a theatre seat in Leeds: for less than a quarter of the cost, PBDS provides entertainment which regularly matches and frequently exceeds the professional stage. Ladies Down Under was another remarkable achievement for a small but immensely talented group.

Review by Nelson Pitt

Photographs by Chris Iredale

[This review appeared in the Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald on Friday 3 June 2011]

"...pure comedy gold..."