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T H E P E R F O R M I N G A R T S
Blue Stockings
– Senior Play 2020
Good drama should touch on universal themes and this year’s
Senior Play, Jessica Swale’s
Blue Stockings
, certainly did that.
Blue
Stockings
has the question of equality and education at its heart,
and it was apt that it followed so closely on from the events of
InternationalWomen’sWeek.
Set in Cambridge 1896,
Blue Stockings
follows the careers of four
female students at Girton College. They cannot be described as
undergraduates as, although permitted to study the same courses
at the university as the men, they are denied the opportunity to
graduate alongside their male counterparts.
From the opening words of psychiatrist Dr Maudsley (Dan
Harvey), the prevailing attitudes towards women and
education are made clear. Higher education of women is seen
as “detrimental to their physiology, to the family and to the
future of our society.” His views are countered by pioneering
principle of Girton Mrs Welsh (Abby McKinlay) who walks a
tightrope between being campaigning (spearheading the fight
for graduation) but not political (rejecting the growing women’s
suffrage movement).
This was an assured production with strong performances all
round. Central are four very different young women. Emily
Christaki (Tess, torn between love and knowledge), Emilia Hitching
(the committed Celia), Marisol Rojas (a beautiful display of stillness
as Maeve, which contrasted to her breakdown at the end of
the first Act) andVicki Morgan-Couch (wordly and flamboyant
Carolyn) are to be congratulated for their rounded and nuanced
performances. Set against them are the male undergraduates:
again a very diverse set of characters. Alex O’Brien showed
a great display of sneering misogyny as Lloyd; Kyril Borzenko’s
Ralph was ultimately as much of a victim of society’s, or at least
his father’s, expectations as the women. Theo Life gave a very
sympathetic portrayal ofWill caught between his desire to
“belong” and his feelings for Tess. They were supported admirably
by Ben Hughes (Edwards) and Lucas Celentano (Holmes). Lucy
Joyce and Harry Lorrell (Miss Blake and Mr Banks) showed how it
was not just the young whose ideals were challenged.
If the subject might sound a little dry, the production certainly
wasn’t. The cast found much humour, notably fromVicki Morgan-
Couch as globetrotting, bohemian Carolyn, Ben Hughes as tongue
tied, social incompetent Edwards and Nicole Simpson as the
ever present chaperone Miss Bott, owner of a fine collection of
withering glances..
The confident directorial hand of Ms Middleton was clear. Her
decision to add songs, and even dance, was inspired. Mr Young’s
lyrics to Gilbert and Sullivan’s music were fitting and no one
winced at a Victorian young man pairing Queen Victoria with
Greta Thunberg in his “little list.” The Three Ladies (Josie Grimsell,
Martha Grimsell and Gauri Godbole) displayed beautiful
a cappella
harmonies throughout and Siobhan Downey, as pianist and Musical
Director, is to be admired.
Numerous short scenes in a variety of locations led to a vast
number of set changes but Mr ArronWhitbread’s sliding and
revolving panels were a neat solution. Choreographing the cast to
perform these changes must have been a nightmare.
Blue Stockings
was another triumph for Bancroft’s drama.
Entertaining and educating, amusing and shocking, it was an all-
round success.