The women who worked in the munitions factories during the first world war were known as canaries because their skin turned yellow. Exposure to TNT also caused severe health problems, and throughout the war there were explosions in munitions shops, causing loss of life. But the canaries were not just on the front line of war work, they were also on the front line when it came to fighting for gender equality, confronted by men who resented them entering the workplace, and a government unwilling to embrace women’s rights.
Alex McSweeney’s play focuses on munitionettes trying to better their lot against the background of the 1917 explosion at the Silvertown munitions factory that was heard as far away as Cambridge and left 73 dead and around 400 injured. But for a play set in the world of work, there’s too much talk and not enough action before we get into the factory in the second half. That’s when McSweeney’s hesitant production comes into its own, although its mix of styles sits uncomfortably with each other.
The real problem of this always informative evening is a lack of tension until the final 15 minutes, and the fact that McSweeney simply doesn’t make the characters vivid enough to give a hardworking cast the meaty roles they deserve. These are largely archetypes selected to show different situations – the dying mother struggling to stay alive so she can feed her kids; the good time girl – or attitudes – the Irish spitfire who espouses class war; the upper class young woman who reverts to type. It may be flawed, but this is a show whose heart is in the right place, and with some more work, its potential could be fully realised.
• Until 14 February. Box office: 020-7870 6876. Venue: Park theatre
