Act Reviews 2024 / 2025 Season

portrayal went beyond the dialogue - her physicality and posture were always in character, even during silent moments. It’s rare to see an actor so fully committed to their character at every second on stage, and it certainly added layers to her performance. Her ability to hold the audience's attention, even in moments where she wasn’t speaking, kept everyone engaged and entertained. Olive Grant, played by Carmel Bird, was another strong character. Olive’s obsession with her Girl Guides career, and her eventual blossoming into a more confident, flirtatious persona, was captured beautifully by Carmel. While Olive was initially quite reserved, Carmel slowly revealed a more playful side to the character, and the subtle shift in her performance was a real highlight. Olive’s chains on her glasses became a symbol of her transformation, and Carmel used this prop effectively to add to the humour and depth of her character. Eddie Bradbury took on the role of Dave Smith, the supervisor of the trio of office workers. Eddie gave an entertaining performance, though I’d suggest that he avoid keeping his hands in his pockets too often, as it can limit an actor’s ability to fully express the range of emotions their character is feeling. Using the hands is a vital part of physical storytelling, and it would have added even more layers to his performance if he had been able to move more freely. The plot revolves around the three women - Gladys, Elsie, and Olive - who are forced to reapply for their jobs and face a pay cut. As they try to make ends meet, they come up with a plan

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=