LADIES IN BLACK is back, this time at the Genesian Theatre. The book is by Carolyn Burns, music and lyrics by Tim Finn, and is an adaptation from the novel ‘Women In Black ‘ by Madeleine St John..
The time period is the 1950’s and is based on a David Jones city store. Lesley, who wants to be known as Lisa, has finished her Leaving Certificate and is waiting for her results with much anticipation. In the meantime she secures a casual position at Goods Department Store. She has aspirations and dreams of being a poet or an actress,. Whilst her mother is encouraging, her father has other ideas. Even though he is well meaning he attempts to thwart her ambitions.
Lisa isn’t the only woman with a journey arc in the play. Fay, one of the members of staff is looking for Mr Right after a series of disastrous dates
Patty, a work colleague, is in a marriage where she is desperately trying to have children.
Magda is in charge of model gowns and is something of a matchmaker. She opens up Lisa’s world to a new way of looking at things.
The action leads up to the Christmas Sales when “all hands are deck”.
Act 1 opens with some of the cast resplendent in dresses, hats and gloves in all colours of the rainbow, seeing the Good’s jingle. At Lisa’s home she sings about “all the people i can be,. one day I’ll know who I am'”.
Miss Cartwright, the Manager, and the cast sing about their work uniform ‘Ladies in Black’. She describes the colour black and being sensible and sheik and she and some of the cast members sing ‘it is never out of fashion, dress it up or dress it down’.
Lisa’s father doesn’t want her going to University saying she is stuffing her head with high faluting ideas, and that higher education should be strictly for men.. ‘What’s wrong with you women, why are you complaining, we gave you the vote’.
Meanwhile Patty has gone to the Doctor and wants her husband to be tested.
A comic highlight is the song ‘He’s a bastard’ where the women vent their frustrations with the male sex.
A poignant scene is where Lisa sits at the Hyde Park fountain singing ‘Only your dreams are written in waster and air.’
In the next scene Magda enters oozing sophistication with a European accent. She says that customer’s are not just “shopping for a dress but for a life’.’
Lisa falls in love with a dress called Lizette which is white organza with small scarlet dot but she can’t afford it. Her mother makes her dresses.
Magda invites Lisa to her home in Mosman which is like a world away for Lisa. Lisa is transformed by the experience she has at Magda’s home.
Frank laments that he and his wife Patty have no children but then Patty seduces him.
Rudi, Magda and Stefan’s friend has a list of what he expects in a wife but says that he isn’t fussy.
Magda invites Fay to her Christmas party. where she meets Rudi . Act 1 finishes with Lisa hopeful for the future, singing ‘I can’t wait till tomorrow becomes today’.
Act 2 sees Lisa growing up and the relationships of the different characters blossom. A highlight of Act 2 is when Fay sings ‘I’ve just kissed a Continental/ It was brief but not inconsequential’.
Debbie Smith’s production is a winning one. In her design some scenes are projected onto a screen and she makes good use of dress racks and mannequins.
The play has many themes including work ethics, gender roles in a less enlightened time, private versus public lives , the power of friendship, and multiculturalism.
Choreography was also by Debbie Smith is tight and very entertaining to watch.
Kyle Stephens lighting and sound design complemented] the action well.
Susan Carveth’s costume design is evocative of the era and is a feast for the eyes.
Rosanna Hurley gives a good performance in the lead role of Lisa Miles. She has a lovely tone in her clear voice. She’s a talented actress and was well cast in the role.
Liberty Thirsk expertly plays the role of Fay the young shop assistant who finds what she is searching for after being introduced to Russian romance novels,
Elizabeth MacGregor is very believable as Patty, an employee of Good’s and the despondent wife of Frank.
Sonia Allan p; plays Magda to the hilt, a stylish European woman with tastes .in fashion, food and culture. She is in charge of high end couture.
Kirstie Redmond plays Mrs Miles, Lisa’s mum who is very supportive of her achievements but is saddened by her daughter becoming independent and growing away from her.
Robert Green plays Mr Miles, the doting Dad of Lisa but stuck in a misogynistic time warp where women were trapped in mothering, nurturing roles only. Green gave a good performance and showcased a good singing voice.
Paul Adderley plays Stefan, Magda ‘s attentive, ‘perfect’ husband. The two were well suited as partners.
Doug Rumble plays Frank, Patty’s hapless husband who finds it’s difficult to express his feelings. Rumble stood out with his big, hearty performance.
Greg Thornton plays the comic sand charming Rudi.
Anna Desjardins plays Lisa’s work supervisor.
Rounding out the cast are Jenny Jacobs as Miss Jacobs, Denise Kitching as Mrs Crown and Freya Moore as Joy..
A very accomplished eight piece band led by Musical Director and Conductor Omid Moheb Zadeh supported the players.
Make tracks to see these Ladies In Black before it hits the finishing line on Saturday 7th December, 2019. This production is a lot of fun
Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes with a 20 minute interval.
https://www.genesiantheatre.com.au/
