Ladies in Black was the Good(e)s

This was, for me, an unexpected treat.  

Everybody has been commending the 1950s costumes and easy listening songs set in the fictional Sydney Department Store Goodes (Could have been Farmers?) produced by the  MTC .  W was keen to go, after various strong recommendations.  

For me the nostalgia went deeper.


 

 The heroine Lesley/Lisa was cast as a Sydney contemporary of mine, did similar classic latin/french subjects to me at leaving certificate level, and there were skirts with multiple petticoats I recall from mid50s church hall dances.  No gypsy tap or other more twirly trad dances were on offer in the play but the mind’s eye was prompted to recreate.

Lisa's  father spoke disparagingly about subjects such as university education, and “refos” in the neighbourhood, evoking strong paternal memories.  

 

It is no surprise that Madeleine St John, author of Women in Black, the novel on which the play is based, is also a contemporary of Clive James and Germaine Greer.  I think Clive would love it; and Germaine’s reaction would be interesting too.  Madeleine was a daughter of leading QC and distinguished parliamentary dissenter Edward St John (described in his obituary as "a modern Pilgrim") who had nothing in common with the father in this story, so not much autobiography evident here.

The story themes faithfully depict a long departed culture of gender mores to which the 60s  gave fatal blows and which came to a general quietus at the close of the century after long illness, but still survive in pockets of Sydney.

A delightful diversion heavily sold out – I hope it comes back again in a mainline theatre production.

Photos from MTC gallery