REVIEW: A play to make you think how far we’ve come – Blue Stockings by Sleaford Little Theatre
When Tony Gordon, as academic Dr Maudsley, made his breath-taking opening address, essentially theorising that women were physically and mentally inferior and incapable of studying at university without harming their ability to be mothers, you could feel a chill descend upon the Sleaford Playhouse audience at the outrageousness of his ill-informed belief.
But this perfectly drew the battle-lines for this latest foray by the cast of Sleaford Little Theatre – Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale.
It highlights the struggles women went through at the end of the 19th century in an effort to gain equality in the male dominated world of Cambridge University, even depicting riots in the streets and burning of effigies by opponents to women’s rights.
The tale is told through four bright, eager young women, brilliantly played by Finabi Hirst as driven and ambitious Tess, Darcey Glenn as diligent Celia, Anna Albuixech as the vivacious Carolyn and Anna Harrison as tormented Maeve.
I was utterly absorbed by the acting skills of this young cast, who noticeably failed to miss a beat throughout, despite tangling with some pretty technical scientific discussions.
Finabi’s abilities particularly stood out in expressing a thirst for knowledge, sadly distracted by the attentions of a male student only to be crushed by infidelity.
Anna Albuixech’s confident manner was delightful, Darcey provided the steadying voice of reason as Celia, while Anna Harrison truly poured out the torment as her character is torn between duty to family or making something of her life.
The young male actors delivered strong performances too with Robert Bingham as the cheating Ralph, Louis Royce as the utterly detestable chauvinist Lloyd who gives a withering and unfair attack on the young girls, Charlie Brewer as reasonable Holmes and Keegan Nuttell-Cartwright doing a grand job in a drinking game in his debut role as Edwards.
There were further commendable showings by Logan Leonard as Tess’s loyal childhood friend Will, and Matthew Wilson-Swinney looked about to explode with emotion as Maeve’s desperate brother.
But there were plaudits for the adult cast too, bringing moments of light relief such as Christabel Edwards as Minnie the maid and the librarian, while Vicky Lawrie drew admiration as Miss Bott the chaperone who didn’t want to see some untouched brandy go to waste.
In fact the staff of Girton College – Emma Awdry, Russell Hopkin and Hayley Goymer were all outstanding.
It was a truly professional performance the cast should all be proud of, which left us wanting to learn more about the story – a degree at Cambridge University remained out of reach for women for another 50 years until 1948 – utterly amazing.