The play, first performed in 1931, focuses on the life of working women in the 1930s.
A rediscovered play exploring the exploitation of working women in the 1930s is winning rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.
London Wall, written by John Van Druten, paints a picture of the life many women faced in the inter-war years – working in offices as typists or secretaries until they managed to find a husband.
The play centres around newcomer Pat, who is being pursued both by arrogant yet charming office manager Brewer, as well as by the more humble shipping clerk downstairs.
Pat is not the only character whose life is dictated by the opposite sex – the other female staff are similarly concerned with the men, or lack of them, in their life.
Blanche Janus, played brilliantly by Alix Dunmore, is seemingly more mature than the other girls, yet even she is preoccupied by men and the increasing likelihood of living a solitary life, a stark reminder of what Pat could become if she doesn’t find someone, and fast.
Although ultimately conveying a serious message, the play provides many laugh out loud moments, both through the everyday office conversations as well as through the inclusion of comic characters.
Eccentric Miss Willesden, who spends most of her days visiting the solicitor’s office, brings light relief at the most serious moments thanks to the sharp comic timing of Marty Cruickshank. Yet even her life is ultimately a sad one, portraying how lonely a woman can be without a man to look after.
The intimate setting of the Finsborough Theatre reflects the claustrophobic office environment, in which everyone knows everything about everyone else and there is no such thing as a private conversation.
In the end, the play appears to finish on a happy note, with Pat’s future looking much brighter due to an unexpected windfall and her realisation that Brewer may not be the man for her. In reality, the issue of equality of the sexes in the workplace remains completely unresolved, something which is pertinent even for the most modern of audiences.
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