Ladies' Day - Sutton Arts Theatre

Trinity Players

"..excellent comedic timing and characterisation."

This hilarious and heart-warming comedy drama, written by Amanda Whittington, is staged at Sutton Arts Theatre this week. The story features four unlikely women who decide to take a day trip to the races. The play focuses on the friendships between these four very different lasses - Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda - who work day after day in a fish-filleting factory where life is hard and reality sucks. Their fortunes change, however, when they go to Ladies’ Day, all hatted and heeled, and place their bets not only on the horses but on love, life, friendships and hopeful encounters.

Directed by Jon Hall and Di Mannion the play is a delight to watch, very funny and is well staged throughout. Jennifer Smith (Pearl), Jessamy Ashton (Shelley), Stephanie Miles (Jan) and Rachel Field (Linda) play against each other with ease, demonstrating excellent comedic timing and characterisation.

Stephanie Miles as Jan, the single mum, brought the house down with her very funny drunken antics as Jennifer Smith as Pearl, showed a much softer character, keeping her extra-marital affair a secret.  Jessamy Ashton's Shelly was bubbly and larger than life and she certainly owned the audience with her over-the-top statements and bubbly personality which was played in good contrast to Rachel Field’s perfect portrayal of Linda, the sweet, shy, lovable and down-to-earth filly, with the controlling mother, who later finds love in the form of a racing jockey.

The girls were well supported by Ray Lawrence (Joe), Rick Jones (Fred), Phil Lines (Jim), Paul Stewart (Patrick), Ray Smith (Kevin) and Colin Townsend (Barry) who all played smaller parts yet clearly had great fun doing so.

Nicely costumed with good set and technical achievement this is a show worth seeing, especially for Tony Christie fans, and this award winning group never fail to ensure their audiences have a great and memorable night out.

Runs to 22 September

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