Review: A Real Race Across the World, Questors Theatre

Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland lived just blocks apart in 1880’s New York and led strangely parallel lives, even though they came from wildly different backgrounds. Nellie had a tough upbringing in Pennsylvania, eventually moving to New York to pursue a career in journalism following a strong response to a local rag article on women’s rights. Elizabeth was born and raised on a sugar cane plantation in Louisiana, where she forged a love of poetry and writing, leading to being a famed society hostess in New York city.

By November 1889, Nellie was a pioneering journalist for the New York World newspaper. After suggesting a round the world jaunt in an attempt to try and beat the 80 days set by Phileas Fogg, she was taken up on her offer by the newspaper’s editor trying to boost flagging sales. Rival newspaper The Cosmopolitan decided to compete and picked plucky southern belle Elizabeth as her rival, taking a different route. A Real Race Across the World tells the little-known yet fascinating story of two indomitable women’s journey, beautifully brought to life by David Hovatter & Company at the Questors Theatre in Ealing.

The (rightly) all-female main cast, supported by two male musicians, is led by two stand-out performers, Fionna Gough as Nellie and Asha Gill as Elizabeth, whose strong characterisation and accents take the sold-out audience along with them for the ride. With more than a whiff of Blanche Devereux of Golden Girls in Elizabeth and Calamity Jane in Nellie (and why not?!), they are a credit to the show. Both have vast amounts of thoughtfully written, complex dialogue, taken from the actual journalistic comments of Nellie and Elizabeth when they printed their tales on return from the trip – all delivered with strength, personality, and more than a little tongue in cheek.

The supporting six are a strong ensemble, each having their own moment in the spotlight. Special mention to Falko for ‘The Geisha Girl’, performed gently with British Sign Language, and the powerful voice of Rebecca Llanes during her numbers. All eight actors are on stage permanently and whole-heartedly for the ninety minutes of the show, and they’re all faultless. Clever choreography and mime, created by Falko and Freddy Henry, bring believable movement and life to the story, particularly ensemble numbers in the newsrooms and during the sea and train journeys. The story also allows for some comedic moments and Phoebe Fitzgerald’s comedy timing and character bring some joyous, light-hearted moments to the trip.

Simplicity of staging and lighting is a strength, the show performed in the round with just eight chairs used throughout to add life, movement and structure when needed. Costuming by Jenny Richardson is consistent amongst the cast, perfectly suited to the era and allows the performers to be flexible, switching from newsroom hacks to crew on the ships and trains to New York dancers. A mix of pre-recorded and live music, provided by bassist Gareth Bevan, is subtle and timely.

Our winning explorer’s return to the US was greeted with huge fanfare, having beaten the 80-day target by some time. The runner-up not so much, even though they also had beaten the 80 days. However, having the two meet at the end of the production is a fitting conclusion to a charming and well-crafted romp that is entertaining from start to finish. The parallel lives of the two actual competitors continued in death, and both are now at rest in the same cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Directed by David Hovatter
Devised by David Hovatter and the company

A Real Race Across the World runs at Questors Theatre until Saturday 22 February.