‘Ladies of Spirit’

Oakeley’s House performance of ‘Ladies of Spirit’ was both enjoyable and entertaining. The play itself was well chosen, particularly for the actresses available. It was easy to watch and follow, the simple plot line was carried by the outstanding acting and it was a good choice for the available time allocation.

Lighting and sound were subtle but effective, and any mistakes were covered by skilful improvisation, particularly by Gemma Crowther. The costumes suited the play well, and the contrast between Emily and Zoe and the rest of the cast assisted the audience in distinguishing between characters.

It was clever to have the entire play in one set, this meant that there was little interruption from stagehands and helped the production to flow. Everything about the play was stylish and well executed, including the programme which was easy to read and the synopsis helped the audience understand the circumstances of the play.

2 characters from 'Ladies of Spirit' sat on sofa

However the most impressive thing about Oakeley’s play was the quality of the acting. Every girl on the stage was equally as strong as the rest, and the supporting actresses Susannah Shane, Sophie Quaile and Natalie Heritage were cast superbly. Emily Tonks and Zoe Black worked well together as the sisters, and the chemistry between them was believable. The show was stolen, however, by Alexa Innes and her outrageous portrayal of Mrs Emmett, she was a pleasure to watch and managed to maintain her character well without laughing, a great achievement.

Furthermore Pippa Robinson was fantastic as the secretary. Her facial expressions and clearly delivered lines could have been those of a theatre veteran, and many of the audience were surprised to find out that she is still only in the Third Form.

Overall the play was a great success and Zoe Black must be very proud of herself with such a good choice of play, such an excellent cast and such a strong performance.