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Phil Hopkins
Group Travel Editor & Theatre Correspondent
@philhopkinsuk
9:17 AM 1st July 2015
arts

Love at First Bike!

 
Samantha Power (Sue, Beryl & Others)
Samantha Power (Sue, Beryl & Others)
Beryl is a wonderful play not only for its down to earth Yorkshire humour, but as a social commentary upon the times in which its main protagonist, Beryl Burton, started to become one of the greatest cyclists that ever lived

On the one hand it leaves you bristling with latent pride - how could this amazing Leeds woman have become buried in the annals of time? - whilst on the other it makes you feel angry for a 'system' that, at best, delivered her a Reliant Robin after she'd won most of the world's cycling medals available to a female in the 1950's, 60's, 70's and beyond.

In a world where the latest Big Brother celeb is also the disposable role model of the moment, or the size of a woman's boobs seems to determine how much media coverage she gets or the amount of cash she earns, this play should force a generation to communally hang their heads in shame, for one of their greatest ever role models is largely forgotten.

My only regret is that its forthcoming 'tour' is so Northern, for everyone should be allowed to view this Morley lass's life once more. As the West Yorkshire Playhouse's Artistic Director, James Brining, points out: "She was a metaphor for determination, modesty, loyalty, love and keeping your feet on the ground whatever heights might be scaled." And haven't we lost so many of those qualities?

Rebecca Ryan (Jo, Young Beryl & Others)
Rebecca Ryan (Jo, Young Beryl & Others)


It was 1954 when Beryl Charnock met keen cyclist Charlie Burton. In those days they cycled in clubs and once Beryl started she was smitten, not only with Charlie but by the thrill and freedom found on two wheels. Beryl was better than good, she was the best and she was determined to stay that way.

Five times world pursuit champion, thirteen times national champion, twice road-racing world champion and twelve times national champion. Her accolades include time trials, former world record holder, former British record holder, numerous sports awards an MBE and an OBE. And last night the West Yorkshire Playhouse paid a worthy tribute to this great lady with their, 'back by public demand' re-run of Beryl.

At first I began to wonder whether the accents would be quite good enough - a Leeds drama for a Leeds audience is a toughie - but I needn't have worried because this four handed company proved itself more than capable of metamorphing into a raft of local characters.

The production drew me in more comprehensively than a black hole, and two hours of performance passed in the blink of an eye, provoking every emotion in the book, the stress of watching an important race, pride, hope, anger for an Establishment which simply didn't see the sport of cycling and, certainly, not a woman at its helm. Not just their fault, but a fault of the times.


Samantha Power as Beryl was superb, a slice of Yorkshire Parkin, a piece of coal, a practical lass....her performance embodied everything that the county has come to represent, and Rebecca Ryan as young Beryl was equally convincing; I kept seeing re runs of the hit TV serial, Shameless, as she bounced around the set.

At times Maxine Peake's stage version of her original radio play, had overtures of John Godber - I remember Teechers being equally manic in terms of a few actors playing many parts - and Willy Russell's Blood Brothers in which adults, at times, play very young children.

Director Rebecca Gatward has a beautiful eye for detail, using the back wheel of a push bike to simulate an aeroplane in flight, using Dominic Gately's talent for comic camp; first he is the Queen, a doctor, even a trolley dolly!

John Elkington (Jim, Charlie & Others) and Samantha Power (Sue, Beryl & Others)
John Elkington (Jim, Charlie & Others) and Samantha Power (Sue, Beryl & Others)


And not forgetting Beryl's husband, Charlie, played by John Elkington, the man who was always there, her rock. John was utterly convincing as the man who, to some extent, sacrificed his life for Beryl, just as Paula Radcliffe's husband became her manager, and Denis Thatcher became Maggie's sidekick. But could any of them have achieved as they did without their silent partners?

Beryl really is a cracking production and, if you can get a seat, go and see it. It is entertaining, utterly convincing, it leaves a lump in your throat and, trust me, at the end young women will understand the true meaning of 'role model', something we have lost in these tinsel times where a cute butt and the name Kardashian seem to count more than a woman who conquered the world again, and again, and again. Run to the box office RIGHT NOW and demand a ticket!

Until July 25th, 2015
Beryl
WY Playhouse, Leeds
7.45pm