1. Scottish Contemporary Theatre (incomplete)
A comprehensive review of
The Steamie
Men Should Weep
Tally’s Blood

2. Areas of Study Social, Political, Religious Issues
Use of History, Nostalgia and Popular Tradition
Issues of Gender
In the Prelim, questions will focus on Use of History and Nostalgia and Issues of Gender.

3. Issues of Gender
Behaviour is learned. Social expectation is cultural and is based on custom and history
People are expected to conform to the codes of gender behaviour “of their time” – the attitudes, beliefs, behaviour, dress, vocabulary, dress etc

4. Gender Issues include
Stereotyping – a exaggerated, prejudice, one-sided view of an individual or group
Romantic heroes
Relationships
Suffering
Family roles
Power / Power imbalances

5. The Steamie
Men Should Weep
Tally’s Blood

7. Harsh, social / urban realism
‘Men Should Weep’
Harsh, social / urban realism

8. Social, Political, Religious Issues
Men Should Weep
Humour
Nostalgia
Issues of Gender
History and Popular Tradition
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9. Social
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10. Political
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11. History
Major historical events such as the Depression are portrayed through action and dialogue
Visually the past is revealed through set, props, costume
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12. Issues of Gender Attitudes such as gender expectations are revealed
Power imbalance, dominance, Expectations
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13. Nostalgia
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14. Humour
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15. ‘Tally’s Blood’

16. ‘The Steamie’ by Tony Roper
Sugar-coated, nostalgic, sentimental but entertaining

17. Social, Political, Religious Issues
The Steamie
Humour
Nostalgia
Issues of Gender
History and Popular Tradition
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18. Social, Political and Religious Issues In ‘The Steamie’
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19. Social Issues
Nationalism is not featured fully throughout the play, however there are some passing references to the ‘English’ and the British films by the characters during the play;
“I cannae stand the wey they talk aw yon ya ya ya.” – Doreen
Money is a theme throughout the play. The women bring up money frequently in their conversations during their time at the wash house, in reference to the American houses;
“They cost a fortune” - Dolly
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20. “Ah’ve hid a wee drink…but that’s between you and me” – Andy
Alcohol is mentioned a lot throughout the play. Most of the time, the subject of alcohol is brought up by the only male character, Andy who, is drinking on the job, yet accuses the women of drinking;
“Do you know where they’re getting’ the drink fae Mrs Culfeathers?” Andy
This is ironic as, throughout, men are described as being drunk all the time; not the women as we find out when Andy has too much to drink.
“Ah’ve hid a wee drink…but that’s between you and me” – Andy
“He’s lying up there drunk already, oot the game, sick o’er the carpet, pig” Margrit
“Aye, he likes a drink your Peter.” - Dolly
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21. Imbalance of wealth- in the play there is a clear divide between the hardship of the working class and the wealth of society. This is shown mainly through Mrs Culfeathers’ situation as she is a very old woman who is not particularly very physically strong but she is having to do a lot of hard work for her and her husband:
“she said shed been here since wan o’clock. Imagine havin’ tae take in washin’ at her age. Y’ed think her family wid help her oot.”
This shows that Mrs Culfeathers was from the working class part of society and was having to work till a very old age just to be able to keep herself and her husband alive.
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22. Political
Use of Scots language- in the play they use more Glaswegian dialect rather than just Scots. However this does not seem to create the feeling of nationalism. I also feel that the use of the Scots language creates a sense of closeness between the characters as they use slang words and they can also make the play more fun and enjoyable at times:
“eh does she have bowly legs?”
The use of the Scots language make this more humorous and unique.
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23. Stereotyping- in the play most of the characters are stereotypes but possibly not Mrs Culfeathers. They are all working house wife's with ages ranging from being a teenager to late sixties. In the play there is a lot of talk about how much the woman have to do in the house, how much hard work it is and how much the men do not do to help. We hear a lot about this from Margrit’s monologue “Isn’t it wonerful to be a woman.”
“you get up at the crack of dawn….you don’t even get a cup of tea before you tidy up. Then you’ve got to go to work..”
This is a a typical middle aged woman’s day with a family. This shows how much work the women had to do and then they were in the Steamie doing the washing with no help.
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24. The Steamie
Humour
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25. Humour
The dictionary definition for “Humour” is : the quality of being funny. 2 Also called : sense of humour. The ability to appreciate or express that which is humorous.
The Steamie as a whole is full of humour so it’s quite hard to find just snippets of it to give you examples
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26. Different types of humour
One liners/punch lines
Long running jokes
Double acts
Visual comedy
Patter
Dramatic irony
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27. One liners/punch lines
A punch line is a joke that gets straight to the point and has an immediate effect on the audience
E.g. When Magrit refers to her Husband :
“…His breath’s like a burst lavy, ye could strip paint wi’ it”
Magrit’s joke about her husband has an immediate effect on both the audience and on the actors.
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28. Long running jokes
A long running joke is one that will be referred back to through out the play and continually be made funny,
i.e. the women's husbands are made fun of through out the play, as from the slide before the men are usually referred to as being lazy and drunk this is highlighted through the only male appearance, “Andy” he is shown to be getting rapidly more drunk throughout the play as a result he is proving the women's theory, all men are the same!
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29. Double acts
A double act is formed between two characters to perform the same joke, Magrit and Doreen are great examples of teaming up throughout the play,
Together when they are on there own on stage there is the conversation about film and the actors.
The best example though is of Doreen and Magrit on the “Phone” when they fool Dolly into thinking there is an actual conversation on the phone going
Magrit “Bring, Bring, bring, bring, she’s no in Dolly.” …
Doreen (to magrit) “Ah cannae keep this up.”
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31. Visual comedy Examples of visual humour in The Steamie are;
At the very start when the audience can clearly see a big sign indicating that no dirty overalls are to be put in the washing, then they clearly see Dolly putting her husbands overalls in the tub.
Dolly hiding under the sheet while she tries to wash herself while Andy gets into trouble by Magrit - “…insinuating that my friend Dolly’s washin’ is so dirty it’s movin’?”
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32. Patter
Patter is much like gossip-which is shown between the women on stage. An example of this is when they gossip about “Maureen McCandlish” This is someone whose family they do not approve of- Dolly- “They’re aw mingin. The Sanitary’s never away fae them.”… Magrit “..I mean nane o’ us have goat much money, but there’s nae excuse for thon. Ye can aye afford a bar o’ soap can’t ye?” They also disaproove of her because they suspected her of “ hawkin’ herself”.
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33. Dramatic irony
This plays a huge part in The steamie, this is where the audience know something that the characters do not, an example of this is how much Doreen goes on about “Drumchapel”-Doreen imagines this to be the start of a wonderful life for her and her husband, but in fact the audience know that Drumchapel did not become that great place she imagined it would be.
Doreen “Ah’ll get it eventually Magrit, ah’ve put ma name doon fur a hoose in Drumchapel”
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34. Why is humour used
Mostly the women use humour to make good of a bad situation, in reality they have nothing to be happy about, there husbands are drunk already, they have a never ending amount of work to do and they’ve got kids to look after.
Humour is used to lighten the atmosphere and make the women realise that not all things end up bad- because hey they’ve always got their “pals”!
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35. History and Popular Tradition
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36. Popular Tradition Songs Hogmanay Meeting together/ Gossiping
In the Steamie they have many ways to show Popular Tradition. e.g.
Songs
Hogmanay
Meeting together/ Gossiping
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37. Gathering together/ Gossip
The steamie shows these women enjoying themselves wile at the Steamie. Although in reality it would probably not have been like this, and many would have dreaded going.
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38. Hogmanay
The play is set on Hogmanay which immediately brings to mind familiar associations to a Scottish audience.
They associate Hogmanay as a time that is spent with family and this is often mentioned in the text to Mrs Culfeathers who is not with her family and has been working long hours.
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39. Hogmanay
They also show Popular Tradition through the women all buying drink for when they go home.
Andy “I mean this is no fur the management’s ears…….Ah’ve hid a wee drink….”
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40. Hogmanay
You gradually begin to see that all the women have been giving Andy a drink just like Dolly, Margrit and Doreen. So this shows it was a popular tradition.
The audience would be able to relate to this comfort of Hogmanay.
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41. Songs
It shows popular tradition and history through Margrit’s song “Isn’t it wonderful to be a woman”. It shows the role of women at this time and how they had to deal with work and family life, all without the help of their husbands.
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42. Songs
Dolly’s song “pals” also has this effect of popular tradition of women in there friends about there troubles.
Which many audience members can relate too.
Sung by Dolly-“when you’ve got pals You can aye have a terr If you want tae come and see me Take a dauner Doon the steamie”
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43. History of the Steamie
The steamie was set on December 31st which is a good time to set it because many people will have memories of celebrating at this time and can relate to this factor.
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44. History of the Steamie
There are many Gender issues in the steamie which has a lot to do with this period of time and how women were expected to do a lot of work.
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45. History of the Steamie
It also shows in retrospect about Drumchapel, where Doreen wants to live one day.
This place was considered to be a lovely place to live before it was built. Although we know now that it did not end up a nice place.
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46. History of the Steamie
The history of the steamies themselves are important to the play. As there are none left and they have been replaced with laundrettes and washing machines.
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47. The Steamie
Nostalgia
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48. Nostalgia
Set in Hogmanay, is a sentimental association for every Scot.
The play is nostalgic because “Steamies” no longer exist.
The play is a comedy which relies upon popular tradition.
The “hard times” creates nostalgia and shows a view of people who stuck together.
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49. Nostalgia Mrs Culfeathers- “Of course we had real summers then…”
She is looking back on her previous early years where it was lovely, and didn’t have to slog at the steamie everyday.
Dolly- “Zat a bubble cut?”
Shows old fashion hairstyles in those days.
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50. Nostalgia
Doreen- “d’ye want a hauf?”…Andy “But seein’ its Hogmanay… I’ll no insult ye…. But jist a wee wan mind.”
This shows the celebrate Hogmanay a very popular tradition in Scotland.
Dolly- “Get ma curlers in.”
Shows old ways to style hair because not many people use those now.
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51. Nostalgia Magrit- “Ah liked the quickstep and the Foxtrot.”
Shows old fashion traditional dances.
Magrit- “Naw he’s staunin here wi’a box brownie.”
Shows names of the old technology i.e. cameras.
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52. Nostalgia
Magrit- “Staunin at Parkhead shoutin’ aboot King Billy wi’ the rest o’ the ijiots.”
This refers to popular tradition of football.
Doreen- “She charges one and six a washin’”
The old money in those times, covering the issue of money.
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53. Nostalgia Doreen- “The weeks before four Fortnights the same.”
Traditional days off, public holidays.
Doreen- “They’re closin’ aw the steamies daen, they say launderettes are gonnae take over.”
This is nostalgic because “Steamies” are no longer with us and back then it was a place for meeting friends and having a gossip.
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54. Nostalgia
Mrs Culfeathers- “….And the whole of Glesca Green was like a sea of colour…”
Shows nostalgia- the old Glasgow. The Steamie’s still there no but no-one goes to the Green anymore, because there will be smaller steamies now.
Mrs Culfeathers- “There was never any loneliness in that place, naebody seemed tae be lonely.”
Shows old fond memories, rose tinted memories.
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55. Nostalgia
Tony Roper shows a warm affectionate tribute to the community spirit of old Glasgow.
He relies heavily on the dialogue of the action and timing which made it a success.
But has the community spirit died out with the decline of these meeting places?
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56. Issues Of Gender In
“The Steamie”
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57. Andy is the only male that appears in the play.
He is the central male character
The other woman talk about their husbands, Margaret generally talks of her husband being a drunk- “he’s lyin up there drunk already, oot the game, sick o’er the carpet, pig”
Andy turns drunk at the end and looses all power over the woman.
Mrs Culfeathers husband is to ill to work so she has to do everything.
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58. The woman accept men’s role in life- “gambling and drinking”
The woman talk about having to work a lot, looking after kids, making the meals, working in the day- “isn’t it wonderful to be a woman. Ye get up at the crack o dawn and get the breakfast oan, get the weans ready and oot the hoose workin as tidy and as well dressed as ye can afford”
The woman accept men’s role in life- “gambling and drinking”
The woman are always under the power of the man (Andy)
Doreen has no aspirations that aren’t domestic, she aspires to have a washing machine, a bath, nothing that she could say she achieved.
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