Diamond Girls

Rating:

Company:Menagerie Productions, Estevan, Sask.

Genre:Play Dramedy

Venue:12 Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, University of Winnipeg

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Malia Becker hits it out of the park in this summery one-hander featuring 21 characters. Some scenes involve 3 people, all played by Becker, masterfully juggled, crisp and distinct.

• Winnipeg Fringe 2016: read our reviews

The script explores the miracle of theAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which existed from1943to 1954.

The players had to slide bases in mini-skirts and never show up for a game without lipstick, but were athletes of the highest order.

Rather than a rehash of the film,A League of TheirOwn, this play brings to life Canadian prairie women who made up a disproportionate percentage of the league.

Fun, funny and brought a tear to my eye.- Shawna Dempsey

As well as playing incrediblebaseball, these local heroines had to negotiate the gender laws during a period that also included racial segregation and homophobia.

Diamond Girlspresents nuanced, poignant portraits of fierce players, who nonetheless needed to ask their husbands' permission to pursue their dreams.

Fun, funny and brought a tear to my eye.