The Stage

Ladies’ Day

Published Wednesday 8 June 2005 at 13:45 by Dave Windass

With Royal Ascot relocated just up the road in York this year the Hull Truck stable has opted to capture the moment with a piece of new writing. Amanda Whittington’s sporting romp Ladies’ Day is as much fun as a day at the races and, arguably, better value for money.

There is not a racehorse in sight although a real sense that a major sporting event is actually taking place is certainly created in this ensemble piece, with some excellent sound design from Sarah Cauldwell adding to Richard Foxton’s basic but effective set, John Boddy’s decent costume designs and Graham Kirk’s ever-nifty lighting.

The play sees a group of four heavily-accented Hull women taking the day off work from their dreary jobs in a fish factory, slipping off their hairnets to don their fascinators and head to the races. Once there the foursome, themselves fish out of water, make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity to mix it with posh folk. Some racegoers - and indeed those that work in fish factories - might find the premise grating. Racing might be the sport of kings but a typical crowd at a race meeting, including Royal Ascot, attracts a wide cross-section of people from all walks of life.

Venue regular Martin Barrass plays multiple parts and proves once again that he is a comedy dynamo, his jockey and a tic-tac man with an uncanny resemblance to Channel 4 pundit John McCririck standing out as hilarious creations.

The quartet of women also do a sterling job under Gareth Tudor Price’s solid direction. Jemma Walker’s wannabe celeb Shelley would not be out of place in Big Brother, Sue McCormick’s Jan is fragile beneath that tough sheen, and Annie Swayle gives a staunch performance as retiring factory worker Pearl.

The diminutive Lucy Beaumont is first past the winning post though. She makes an outstanding professional acting debut as innocent and naive Linda, adding layers of life to the character.