Theatre Review - TOP GIRLS - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

 

TopGirls - dinner party - photo Paul Hood

An interesting show that subverts the audience’s expectations. Top Girls was written by Caryl Churchill in the early eighties. Seeming to have rather a dour perspective on the age-old question ‘Can woman really have it all?’, it starts with a sort of fantasy dinner party with various women from history celebrating Marlene’s promotion. As the evening goes on, they all lay bare the wounds their successes brought them. Scene Two feels like a whole new play as we watch an argument between two teenagers. Scene Three finds us back with Marlene, though this time with actual living people, as we join her at ‘Top Girls’ employment agency. The final scene has the audience catapulted back in time one year to see Marlene visiting her sister.  An intriguing plot looks at how women of various states view one another.

Angie (MyahRoseWilson) photo Paul Hood

Directors Kath Frazer and Sue Hinton have created a dynamic show that combines anticipation and depth of feeling with a humour and drama. Set Designer Luke Durham created a simple but effective set with little furniture that created each different environment perfectly. Geogina Purvis was an absolute wizard of the wardrobe as she created not only effective and characterful 80’s fashion for each individual character but also dressed a Pope!

Shona (Erin Thwaites) & Nell (Steph Moore) - photo Paul Hood

The entirely female cast was absolutely flawless and naming the numerous talents of each of these women would take too long. Each actress brought something different and interesting to their roles and made it their own. Here are a few of the wonderful performances in store for anyone who goes to a performance: Sarah McLane had me in stiches as the woman of few words, Dull Gret, and Anna Dobson was equally hilarious as the fantastic Pope Joan. Hayley Simpson, as the uber-sophisticated and graceful Win, is that girl we all wish we were, until we know her back story that is. Kay Edmundson invokes such emotion as the struggling Joyce and Myah Rose Wilson creates an effective, angry, yet unaware teenager Angie. Finally, Sara Jo Harrison is extraordinary as the ambitious Marlene and always has the audience in the palm of her hands.

Top Girls is showing at The People’s Theatre until 15^th February.

Shona (Erin Thwaites) & Nell (Steph Moore) - photo Paul Hood