Back Time Out - July 6 2010

by Robert Shore

Were you a member of the Land Army? If so, you won’t want to miss The Lion’s Part’s tribute to the women who dug for victory during World War II, valiantly (and usually excitedly) leaving home to take up the agricultural jobs left vacant by men as they were drafted into the military. Indeed, you may even have helped to write the script, which is based on material supplied by former Land Girls. If the answer to that initial question is ‘no’, on the other hand, but you have some feeling for British history, the changing lives of women in the middle of last century or just the changing seasons, you’ll still enjoy this handsomely staged little show directed by Sonia Ritter.

There’s a cornucopia of revealing historical detail and amusing anecdote in the four interwoven monologues, related by four representative social and class types: the tale of short-sighted cockney Peggy’s first attempt at ploughing, rendered unnecessarily perilous because she didn’t want to be seen wearing specs by a prospective boyfriend, is nicely observed and engagingly told by Kali Peacock. And the songs and music-hall-style turns with which the show is peppered are delightfully delivered and are likely to cause even those who have no personal memories of the war years to shed a nostalgic tear or two.