The Steamie
By Tony Roper
Newcastle
Peoples Theatre 1st April 2014
Music by
David Anderson
Directed by
Tony Childs
Men, Mince and Tatties
Life in
1950’s Glasgow is not easy. The play is set on
Hogmanay with four hardworking women doing the washing in the communal
washhouse – The Steamie of the play's title. It is an era when older members of
the community, like Mrs Culfeathers (Maggie Watson) are referred to formally
and their age does not stop them working by taking washing in.
The play,
written by Rab C Nesbitt’s Tony Roper, gave the audience a number of comedy
moments in which everyone laughed. Dolly (Anna Dobson) gets a lot of the early
laughs as they talk about how there is “a lot of deaths for this time of the
year”. The steamie offers a community venue in which news and gossip is swapped
whilst chores are done. During the course of the play Dolly discusses a range
of topics with the personable Doreen (Jessica Hannah) and the sometimes
irritable Magrit (Sarah McLane) who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Subjects as
diverse as bras, Tony Curtis, old people, dancing and wanting to see the
grandchildren are examined. The
discourse only pauses when handyman Andy (Keith Henderson) passes through.
The
splendid set, designed by Stewart Dives, features running water and enables the
play to proceed without interruption. Though the set is set on a single
location, the lighting design by Peter Harrison helps draw out particular
groups.
It is a
credit to the acting of all four principle characters and the script that the
play seemed to fly by. The four main roles are believable and one can
sympathise with their view on the world.
The
delightful play is an entertaining breath of fresh air.
The play
continues until Saturday 5th April 2014.
Photos by Paula Smart: https://www.facebook.com/wildheartsandwishesphotography
THE STEAMIE by Tony Roper, music by David Anderson
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 April 2014 7.30pm
The People’s Theatre, Stephenson
Road, Newcastle upon
Tyne, NE6
5QF
£12.50 (Concessions £10)
Box Office: 0191 265 5020
www.peoplestheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 0191 265 5020
www.peoplestheatre.co.uk
This
review was written by Stephen
Oliver
for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com).
Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo
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