Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jackie Jones, Nuala Maguire, Marie Westcott, Sarah Keating, Becky Brooks, Sophie Smith, Josie Sedgewick Davies, Maggie Quinlan.

Four plays written, edited, practised and performed inside 24 hour whilst all the while at the back of the minds of all involved with Lady Parts Theatre the small nagging doubt that this perhaps can be a jump too far for all participating in the project. Assemble was the rallying call and assemble with flying colours they did, all present and correct, suitably attired and as a bonus were just magnificent.

The four plays, Next Week, Sub/Dom, The Wise Watermelon and Characters all were weaved together so well that that for a brief moment it would have been ridiculous to think that they combined effort of the team could have put this together in just under a day, however they did and the respect that should be forthcoming from such an endeavour will no doubt follow.

With the three latter plays revolving around the opening and closing sections, the responsibility of making the intertwined but stand-alone pieces were on the shoulders of Jackie Jones who did a wonderful job of keeping the audience interested in her portrayal of a woman who seemed lost in her own problem, the nervous continuing lingering looks at her watch and passers-by time-pieces were excellently observed and for this she should be congratulated.

Each character’s story was imaginative and thought provoking and written with a keen eye by the superb Laura-Kate Barrow, Ruth Hartnoll, Joel Whitall and Dave Cox. Sub/Dom was amazing piece of work that captured the essence of control between two women, one of which had never had the chance to assert her authority at work and which starred a blistering  Maria Westcott and a stunning Nuala Maguire as the 19 year old submissive who teaches her new friend how to attain dominance.

The Wise Watermelon captured the heart of any conversation between two bored girls in a coffee shop and which was an enjoyable romp from start to finish involving Becky Brooks, Sophie Smith and the talented Sarah Keating as the put upon waitress and Characters raised the bar still further as one woman begins a new relationship with someone she has found to take all her problems away. This last conversational piece was framed by Josie Sedgwick Davies and newcomer Maggie Quinlan who despite being only drafted in at the last moment gave a measure performance to rival any on stage.     

Throughout it all, Jackie Jones sat brilliantly impassively as she witnessed the comings and goings of the café before telling her own important heart-breaking story and the effect on her life.

Huge congratulations to Lady Parts Theatre and all involved in this tremendous idea for proving that sometimes the play really is just the thing.

Ian D. Hall