| The Matchgirls |
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by Bill Owen 10 - 19 February 2011
Yes, that Bill Owen, star of Last of the Summer Wine. The story is based on a real event in 1888 when girls working in the Bryant and May match factory in London went on strike – geddit? – in protest at their dreadful working conditions. One of the effects of making phosphorus matches was that the girls risked developing a disfiguring condition known as “phossy jaw”. Led by one of their number, Kate, they seek recognition of their rights with the help of Annie Besant, an early Labour activist. Of course, they finally win the day. Sounds grim? Not a bit of it. Thisis a lot of fun. There is romance between the girls and their young men, mostly from the nearby London docks - chief among them Kate and her boyfriend Joe. This show is a fast-moving musical laced with Cockney humour and songs, musical numbers and choruses a-plenty. In short, a feel-good show with tunes to make you tap your feet and songs you will long remember.
Cast
Croydon Advertiser ReviewTheo Spring 25 February 2011 Based on the 1888 strike by matchgirls working in appalling conditions in the Bryant & May factory in Bow, the musical is not all doom and gloom but brightened by the attitude of the cheerful ‘cockney sparrers’ who eventually win a better working life. Tony Dent’s excellent thrust set (combining use of stage and auditorium) gives oodles of room for movement which flowed well under the direction of John Harries-Rees. The ‘girls’ are a mixture of the old and young with Berry Butler and Dawn Lambert offering comfort and wisdom as Mrs Purkiss and Old Min respectively and Natasha Nicholls as 12-year--old Louie suffering baldness from constantly carrying boxes on her head. A taste of the swingeing forfeits in wages were imposed by Foreman Mynel (Alan Thruston) for breaking the rules such as no talking and answering back. Hannah Millsted with good vocal ability is Kate who heads up the fight for fair conditions, aided by Katie Kavanagh as the wealthy Mrs Besant who encourages and helps the girls. In turn Dominick Zwolinski encourages her as George Bernard Shaw. The story involves young dockers too, with Peter Bowdery as Kate’s Joe who almost emigrates without her and Keiran McGough as Bert who marries the already pregnant Winnie in an uplifting scene. Songs there are aplenty with the lively La di Dah a precursor to a trip ‘up west’. Supplied on backing tracks I found the music rather too modern for the play’s era although all the numbers were sung with gusto.
Tackled with much enthusiasm by the large cast the production dealt well initially with the true story of the matchgirls’ fight, but left their actual achievement a little inconclusive on the announcement that ‘we’ve won’. |
