West End Girls' Victoria
Abbott and Jessica Robinson chat about best friends . . .
Everyone has that one best friend they’ll
never forget. Sometimes it’s a friend who’s there at just the right time…
sometimes it’s a lifelong relationship. That one person who makes you laugh at
the worst of times, at yourself, at the world until you nearly pee your pants.
When you’re around them you feel more yourself than you ever have before.
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| Victoria Abbott and Jessica Robinson in West End Girls. Photo by Stephen A'Court. |
You think girl power started with the 90’s?
Try the 1940s.
Mae and Babs are BFF’s (Best Friends
Forever). Mae’s a bombshell, Babs has never been kissed. Mae also happens to be
the best prostitute in Soho with a job opening for a maid. The story is real,
funny and moving. Our quest was to find the friendship between Mae and Babs and
the community of women in Soho in 5 weeks.
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| West End Girls. Photo by Stephen A'Court. |
So how did Jess and Vic (we’re writing in
third person – hi!) find themselves synchronised trampolining?
It all began on the Circa leather couches…
After sitting next to each other with
identical scripts for five minutes, we realised we had the same audition slot.
It was instant teamwork time. Turns out team Je-toria were a good match.
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| Jessica Robinson and Victoria Abbott in West End Girls. Photo by Stephen A'Court. |
Out in Aro in our first rehearsal Je-toria
were joined by a trio of babin’ brunettes: Heather, Hayley and Bryony. Not only
were rehearsals a hoot but breaktime bonding over St Vinnies op shop and Aro
bake delights were relished. Our session with the Wellington Prostitutes
Collective was hilarious and informative too!
Our (pregnant) stage manager Fingal made a
priori-tea (terrible pun, sorry!) of getting us proper English Breakfast and Earl Grey. Tea breaks onstage matched the
tea breaks in the Green Room. As the friendships between the women in Soho
blossomed our girl bonding took to the streets of Wellington. Hayley’s search
for the perfect leather jacket; restraining Jess in boutiques; Bryony’s
amazement at the prices Jess thought were ‘a bargain!’; Heather’s knowledge of
the high street and Vic’s free makeover and obsession with samples. A $10 pub
lunch ended with turning our food into faces on the plate - much to the
confusion of the waitress. Heather’s free week gym pass got us in shape, in the
epically hysterical trampolining fitness class.
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| Victoria Abbott and Jessica Robinson in West End Girls. Photo by Stephen A'Court. |
But we still looked like a bunch of
Wellington urbanites. Enter Eliza and Jane to educate and dress us like the
beauties of the 40s. Pin curls, silk undies and a ridiculously hectic amount
of costume changes later we are rearing to go.
We’ve had a blast behind the scenes, can’t
wait to see you on the stage!
Xx Jess and Vic
West End Girls graces the stage of Circa One for two more weeks, until 1 September. To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online www.circa.co.nz.
