"Bad Girls The Musical" by RAMTC - Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company

Mansfield Palace Theatre.

I've had the pleasure in seeing several of Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company (RAMTC)'s presentations, but this time around there is a touch of sadness, as this will be there last ever production, as the company are disbanding. I'm sure that it'll not be the last time that we see this talented bunch of actors again though on stage.

"Bad Girls" introduces us to an anarchic bunch of women on the edge and up against the odds - prostitutes, addicts, shop-lifters, murderers - each with a story to tell of lives left behind and dreams of a better future ahead, and an entrenched old guard of prison officers out to dash their every hope.

I've seen this musical several times over the years, but had forgotten just how gritty and raw the stories and the script were. In this production there is no overture and the action starts from the off. The opening also shows the back of the stage opened up to the street and the latest prisoner brought in from the street. Very different and very realistic. It then gets into the uneasy grittiness straight away.

A new Wing Governor, Helen Stewart, arrives at HMP Larkhall on a mission to reform the ‘us and them’ regime - and finds a surprising ally and soulmate in charismatic cop-killer Nikki Wade. But both face a ruthless adversary in corrupt Officer Jim Fenner, who wants Helen’s job and will do everything he can to undermine her.

Then the tragic suicide of a young inmate - in which Jim Fenner is implicated - unleashes an angry protest on the wing and forces Helen and Nikki to their opposite sides of the bars. But when it’s clear that Helen stands to lose her job over Fenner’s misdeeds, the race is on for all the women to overcome their differences and join forces against their common enemy.

Stephen Mura plays Jim Fenner, and plays him as seedily as Fenner should be. Stephen has a voice made for musical theatre and shows it off well in this role, and he can soft-shoe with the best of them. This is highlighted in Act Two with the big song and dance tap number.

Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby is played by Adela Green. I've had the pleasure of seeing Adela previously, so I knew that she had a voice to match Stephen's. Loved the chemistry between the two bent screws; a sibling like relationship with both backing each other in the naughty stakes, and both having perks to their jobs that they didn't want to give up, so the fight was there. Adela has a lovely soft style of comedy presentation, which I also enjoyed.

Marie Madej plays Helen Stewart. Now I don't think that I had seen Marie before in a main part, and so didn't know if she was in fact Scottish. If she isn't she has a talented ear for accents; If Marie is Scottish, I love her natural soft brogue even more. Marie has one of those voices that you will remember, and her duet in Act Two with Ella showed a beautiful pairing of their voices.

The Governing Guvnor, aka The Number One is played by Steve Dunning. I've seen Steve in several roles, not all musical so I also know of Steve's talents. He holds an air of authority with this character, but is as bent as Fenner and Bodybag, and also against Stewart taking over control of the wing.

Officer Justin Mattison, the junior prison officer, is played by Lucas Young. This young man has a wealth of experience under his belt as an actor, singer and dancer among many of his talents. Mattison is an important role within this story in setting Fenner up to get his rightful comeuppance. If you don't know this musical, then I'll leave it to you to see it and find out how!

Nikki Wade, who was sentenced to life for killing a policeman, is played by Ella Greenwood. I love Ella's voice. I love the power and control she has with her voice and if she ever releases a CD, I will buy it as she has one of those voices that you could listen to all night. A brilliant character for Ella to play as well.

Shell Dockley, who is doing life for the kidnap, torture and eventual murder of the woman who 'stole' her boyfriend, is played by Alice Lindley. Another great character for any woman to play because of the power that she has, and not only that but, at the start you have a very different image of Shell to what you see at the end. A proper journey character.

Yvonne Taylor plays Yvonne Atkins, who is serving four years for conspiracy to commit murder. What a character and what a brilliant actor to play this role. Yvonne really reminded me of the original TV character, who I'd always held in my mind as being great fun to have Yvonne A as an inmate. This production cemented my opinion of the character and showed me what a lovely character-driven actor Yvonne T is.

'The Two Julies' Julie Saunders and partner-in-crime Julie Johnson, both in for two years for theft, are played by Kelly Beniston & Sinead Parkin. This musical really is well written and that is shown with these two characters. Can you imagine the trouble these two would be at school. Great chemistry between Kelly and Sinead, and that made them great fun to watch.

Playing Noreen Briggs, who is doing 3 months for shoplifting ties from a department store, is Lauren Victoria Wells. Ties? Can you believe that?

Amy Wicks, who is playing Crystal Gordon, whose doing 12 months for persistent shoplifting. There will always be one inmate in any prison who has some level of religious connection, and Crystal is that character.

Charlotte Bond plays Denny Blood. Denny is doing 7 years for arson. Charlotte I've seen in several Kristian Thomas productions, usually as part of an ensemble, so it's nice to see Charlotte get a named character to play.

Rachel Hicks, who is in for 30 months for possession with intent to supply, is played by Reema Frost, who again I've seen in many an ensemble in various drama groups over the years.

The other inmates at Larkhill are played by Kate Viles, Emily Coxhead, Sabine Lakin (Congratulations), Charmian McBirdie, Cassie Barrett & Laura Taylor and the other prison guards are played by Matthew Ross, Jane Oates and Alison Bond.

A simple set design which gives all the feel of being banged up with floor to roof bars with just the one door to enter and exit. Props were moved on and off stage to create various other scenes. Simple to look at but very effective visually.

Tom Bond is the Musical Director. Tom's reputation precedes him, in my opinion, and I know that the music side of the show will not be a problem. His reputation, and talent, again proves me to be correct. The band are on stage, behind bars - probably not the bars they would like to be behind, but possibly swapped one set of bars for another after the show.

There are some wonderful ballads here as well as various other genres of music woven in. From the opening number "I Shouldn't Be Here", through the comic "Jailcraft"- a wonderful duet with Fenner and Bodybag - and the very naughty "All Banged Up" through to one of the best closing ensemble numbers "This Is My Life".

Kristian Cunningham is the Choreographer. I could just say "ditto" or "see above", because whenever I see Kristian's name as choreographer, I know it's going to be sharp. I was not disappointed.

Alysha Gomes is the Director for this musical. Alysha has really made this show pacy, as well as grittier than I remembered. The delivery that she has brought out of some of the actors playing the inmates was proper filthy; I was quite taken aback, but I loved it all the same. The show was over faster than I had expected, and that is due to great timing and pace, and also the level of enjoyment of the whole production. Something a Director can take the credit for.

I did notice that some of the lighting cues were missed and a couple of times the actors either had to move into the spotlight or, at one stage, the only actor on stage was in darkness for most of his piece, and there were also a couple of missed sound cues. This is of course first night, and I always like to get in there on first night, so I'm sure that as from the second night, everything will be absolutely perfect.

The cast of "Bad Girls The Musical" will be banged up at The Mansfield Palace Theatre until Saturday 2 July. I imagine that Saturday's final performance is going to be an emotional one for everyone involved.