The Thrill of Love
4 School Road by Belmont School, Belmont, AucklandTicket Information
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Variously described as a Blonde Bombshell and a Femme Fatale, Ruth Ellis famously became the last woman to be hanged in Britain in July 1955. This exciting play explores the lives and relationships of the beautiful, sassy and smart women who sought an escape from poverty in the perceived glamour of the London nightclub scene.
If there’s one thing that fascinates us more than a blonde bombshell, it’s a blonde bombshell who doubles as a criminal. Ruth Ellis - who calmly confessed to shooting dead her lover David Blakely on Easter Sunday 1955 - was the last woman to be hanged in Britain and has been a source of lasting fascination ever since. While Ellis plead not guilty, she offered no defence and sealed her own fate by declaring under oath: “It is obvious that when I shot him, I intended to kill him”. “No further questions” came the withering reply. This case, and the public outcry that followed, eventually led to the abolition of the death penalty in Britain. Certainly today, a court would have taken longer than 15 minutes to convict and condemn - but sexual abuse and domestic violence were not acknowledged or named and so could not be used as a defence.
Amanda Whittington's play - directed by Kathy Gent - focuses on Ruth's life and in particular her friendships with Sylvia the dependable nightclub manageress, Vickie a vivacious actress and model, and the selfless and kind cleaner Doris who has aspirations of being more: The women who provide comfort as she battles her abusive lovers.
Set to an achingly beautiful Billie Holiday soundtrack we are led by Detective Inspector Jack Gale, in film noir style, through the extraordinary events before and after the notorious murder. You are cordially invited to the Rose Centre, to meet the women who are dreaming of Hollywood rather than Holloway Prison.
Our Cast:
Ruth - Meg Andrews
Sylvia - Catherine Maunsell
Vickie - Rosheen Leslie
Doris - Natasha Ross a.k.a. Tasha Wehrle
Jack - Matthew Diesch
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