Pearl proved a racing certainty

Four women take a day off from their job in a fish packing factory to go to the Royal Ascot Races at York for Ladies Day to celebrate Pearl’s leaving.

Dressed in their finery, they bet on the jackpot, down too many glasses of champagne and, during the day, hidden secrets are revealed.

Debt-ridden Shelleyyearns to be a celeb, while young Janet seeks refuge from her domineering mother by listening to Tony Christie.

Drunk Jan made the mistake years ago of putting her baby, Claire, before her ex-husband, while Pearl has a secret lover and is hoping to see him at the races...

The staging was superb with the girls, backs to the audience, stripping off their overalls provocatively to reveal stunning Ascot outfits underneath, whereupon they paraded the aisles showing off their fineries while the set was changed to reveal a backdrop to the racecourse.

Cleverly done and a nice touch to involve the audience in the parade.

With lively Tony Christie music at regular intervals, this was a happy, feel-good show, enhanced with moments of tender emotion and pathos, where the cast seemed to enjoy it as much as the audience certainly did.

I can’t wait for this talented group to do Amanda Whittington’s sequel to this play, ‘Ladies Down Under’.

Ron Ellis