Ladies Unleashed at The Priory
Ladies Unleashed by Amanda Whittington, performed at The Priory Theatre, from 23 February until 1 March 2025. Director: Stuart Lawson.
Review by Charles Essex
This comedy tinged with sadness showed the importance of friendship. Amada Whittington’s Ladies plays reach the third of the trilogy, after Ladies Day and Ladies down Under, and a trip to Lindisfarne for the wedding of Linda (Karen Evans), the optimistic and enthusiastic one of the gang of four.
But as in their previous adventures, we know that it will not be plain sailing. Whittington’s script allowed the characters to tell their stories of the last 20 years, wearied predominantly by husbands, work and children. If the same comments had been made by male characters about women, they would have been instantly recognised as misogynist.
Karen was delightfully bubbly as Linda despite the tribulations the friends faced on the journey and when they arrived at Holy Island. Pearl (Ruth Macallum) had had to get married as a teenager. Even though that pregnancy miscarried, she stayed married, again conforming to the societal norms at the time, but was now filled with regrets about the life she didn’t live. This break from her husband sealed the marriage’s fate for her. Ruth ruefully conveyed Pearl’s sorrow movingly.
The pride and boastfulness that Nicky Main’s character Jan had in her daughter, an Oxbridge graduate and successful corporate businesswoman, slowly crumbled. Nicky was particularly effective as the façade disintegrated as she read a letter she had pencilled to her daughter. It revealed an estrangement for reasons that were not specified, and a hope for a reconciliation, but it was a letter that she would never send.
Glamourous Shelley (Emma Marshall) had stayed in Australia, apparently successful in the entertainment industry. However, arriving late but not from Australia, she confessed that her dreams had faded and she was doing cleaning and working in bars in Scarborough.
In an unexpected and novel twist, there was a concurrent story of two Victorian herring girls Mabel (Alison McShane) and Daisy (Chloë Wiltshire), who worked in the fishing industry as the four modern friends had done in Hull. Mabel and Daisy described their aspirations, for the stage and for marriage, respectively, often through songs which they both did well.
Director Stuart Lawson can be justifiably proud of this Priory production as the cast and crew were on top form. The backdrops of the train station, the Northern Lights, the sunset and rise and the starry night were very effective. This comedy had a tenderness and sadness but both this tale of modern women and Victorian lasses showed the importance of friendship.
For tickets go to: https://www.priorytheatre.co.uk/whatson/ladies-unleashed
