Steamie –Review Little Theatre Gateshead September 6th 2010

Steamie –Review

Little Theatre

Gateshead

September 6^th 2010

 

Imagine Glasgow on New Years Eve in 2010, sharp suits mixed with the Ned’s, the wine and beer flowing and happiness all around…

Shoot back 58 years to 1952, a little bit different-the war has not long ended, poverty is in presence and there isn’t much to celebrate.

Four luckless lassies are down on themselves; the Steamie (washhouse) is their only habitat today.

Magrit, Doreen, Dolly and Mrs Culfeathers are women of the world (well Glasgow anyway), they take all of their frustrations of the modern world, antics of the working class husband and wondering where their next make up will come from – out on the washing that they regularly bring in.

Jim Race

They don’t half gossip and could quite easily give Fanny Cradock a run for her money. They all have their hopes and aspirations, not only for themselves but also for the up and coming New Year, and new ideals that the future might bring. A very ‘trench like’ attitude is taken by the ladies as all help out each other with not only the washing but with marital problems; a little bit of drunkenness and post peat bath itching

Maureen Duffy

What might be a simple setting of an auld laundrette is really a fantastic social hub that brings out the best of the hard working women.

The 'hard working' male in this set up is Andy the Janitor, who haphazardly maintains not only the machinery but also the lassies, he is a caring sole but he is overpowered by the female traits.  

Sandra Bones

Ohh and there is music and singing too, all of them having a go in the spotlight at putting the world to rights, and coming up with some interesting answers.

 

The main interesting answer here is that The Steamie is a brilliant amateur play, performed by a bunch of fantastic "Progressive Players". This is my second time reviewing at the theatre and it just keeps on getting better. The actors were sharp and looked very comfortable up there. With all of them having working or busy lives outside of the theatre, coming nightly to perform for the public, they make it seem so effortless. The humour and the accents (helped along by Robert and Althea Morrison) were very good; you could close your eyes and really imagine five Glaswegians up there. 

Irene Crankshaw

I was promised by the Director Judith Hind that the stage settings were going to be second to none, and second to none the were. I have never gladly been in a Steamie but if I could have imagined what they looked like,the crew have done a fantastic job in re-creating it. Sound and lighting was spot on, the technicians at the theatre have made The Steamie very atmospheric. Top marks to them.

Elaine Wilson

Irene Crankshaw as Mrs Culfeathers, Elaine Wilson as Magrit, Sandra Bones as Doreen, Maureen Duffy as Dolly and Jim Race as Andy should all be very proud of a entertaining the packed out crowd. They put every bit of heart and soul into this project.

Tony Roper, who wrote the play also wrote Rab C. Nesbitt. He too would be beaming with this production. 

The Steamie is playing from 6^th-11^th September tickets are £7