DAISY PULLS IT OFF

 

Written by Denise Deegan

Directed by Kate Blackhurst

Canberra REP production at the Canberra REP Theatre, Acton to 26 September

 

 

Reviewed by Len Power 11 September 2026

 

It’s a rare play that gives 13 women, no men, a chance to play a set of colourful characters in a parody of a ‘Girls Own’ adventure in the style of the much-loved fiction of Angela Brazil, Ellinor Brent-Dyer and Enid Blyton.

 

Set in 1927 England in the elite Grangewood School for Young Ladies, Daisy Meredith, the first scholarship student, has to deal with practical jokes, snobbery and hockey while pluckily managing to solve a mystery at the same time.

 

This mystery story is performed as a play probably written by the school’s students themselves. As expected in a school play, props are minimal. The passing scenery outside a train window and the framed school portraits are particularly imaginative and amusing.

 

The characters are mostly schoolgirls with a couple of staff members, and they are played by actors of all ages. As part of the play, a couple of “male” characters turn up with false beards and moustaches to add to the fun.

Ashleigh Butler (Daisy) and Alex McPherson (Sybil)

This play is a golden opportunity for actors to play the characters encountered in this type of period fiction. Everyone has their moment and there are some outstanding performances. Ashleigh Butler as Daisy is a fine heroine filled with determination and moral courage. Alex McPherson plays Sybil Burlington, the nasty snob, with relish and the best performance in the show is Elaine Noon as the eccentric best friend, Trixie Martin. Noon shows a true understanding of the style required with her particularly uninhibited and delightful playing.

The play seemed a bit long and wordy for what it is and the pace was a bit slow at times. However, this is a funny play and a nostalgic dive back into the literature that people of a certain age grew up with.

 

Photo by Alex Unikowski

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.