THE FAIR FIGHT

This is a story of female pugilists, bloodshed, brutal poverty, and monied ruthlessness in 1790s Bristol. Steve West portrays the upper-class men: Granville Dryer, patron of pugilists; Perry Sinclair, a wastrel who marries his sister, Charlotte, off to Dryer; and George Bowden, the sorriest of the lot. Fiona Hardingham uses a broad accent to portray Ruth, a lowborn bare-knuckle pugilist sponsored by Dryer. Justine Eyre portrays Charlotte's parts with a smoky voice and crisp accents. Ruth slugs it out with men and women in the ring, and, shockingly, teaches Charlotte to throw a strong punch. Hardingham, Eyre, and West join forces to enthrall, repel, and horrify listeners. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2015]