Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls directed by Malcolm Baker, having sold out, had to put on extra nights to accommodate the audiences. Walking into the theatre the stage is set up as the hall where the WI have their weekly meetings, sometimes Tai Chi and the Tibetan Yak of a fashion, sometimes a sing song and often a talk that could send some people over the edge: like the history of the tea towel or even broccoli - complete with slide show. The hall has two doors stage left and double doors stage right. A stage on the back wall with a row of chairs in front and projection wall on the back used effectively when scenes were done outside and showing the field of sunflowers planted in John’s memory. Piano stage left and table stage right. Stage left on the wall a picture of the young Queen Elizabeth. Set Design Malcolm Baker, Set Artistry by Ann Crawford and Set Build by Anthony Kitchen, Malcolm Baker, Rob FitzMaurice, Damian Sweeney, Caroline Guard and Alan Jackson. Stage Manager was Debbie Pearson who also played Brenda Hulse the offending giver of talks on broccoli. Scenes were effectively changed.  Lighting and Sound were all in keeping although there were some sound issues with feedback, which I am sure would be ironed out as the run continued. Lights and Sound by Mike Vickers and Kenton Barker. Wardrobe and Hair were all tastefully done and matched the characters - Wardrobe by Joan Barker.

There cannot be many people who have not heard about Calendar Girls and the inspiration behind the play, film and musical. Based on the true story of real life calendar girl in Yorkshire that went viral in 1999 and sold over 200,000 copies. This story does not date - the topic and struggles of families and friends having to cope with this terrible disease still stand up today. Tim Firth gives us a glimpse into friends and a community coming together and actually trying to make a difference not least for the relatives who have to sit and wait on the old settee in the hospital waiting room.

Helen Small makes her acting debut as the imposing Lady Cravenshaw and also takes on the role of WI Official. Carla Gonen played Elaine and Liam.  Claire Bentley played Marie. Bryan Higgins is the loyal husband Rod. Stuart “Mac” McNeil plays John. The play is centred around his illness and how he sees the ladies of the WI. I thought John had the essence of the character well defined and he worked well with Andrea Jones playing Annie - I believed they were a couple. The scene when he leaves the wheelchair, I thought could have had some extra lighting to help with the transition of the story and meaning. Andrea as Annie had a lot of emotions to convey as her character and you could see that all clearly played out. Her caring nature and her realisation of others in the same predicament when all the letters arrive is a lovely moment and the cast reading out the letters - but again I wonder if lighting or positioning of the actors would have helped convey this more theatrically.

Lydia Clare as Ruth had some lovely comic moments especially when dressed as an animal and no one knew what she was. I did think some nervousness showed at the beginning and her diction was hard to hear at the start but as time went on she settled into the role and had a great moment when confronted with the woman whom her husband was seeing. Tina Wyatt took on the role of Cara the vicar’s daughter - repressed and a rock chick with a naughty side. Lots to get your teeth into and she certainly did. Well done.

Valarie Ball played Chris the well-known part for making Marks and Spencer’s Victoria Sponges fly off the shelf. Chris is the driving force of the narrative and yes there are doubts about why she is doing it. Valarie had great energy and although unsure at times of lines drove through. As this was the beginning of the run as extra nights were thrown at the cast I applaud you. The main thing was you believed Chris and Annie were good friends and the casting worked.

Some of the action by the cast was spoken out to the audience as opposed to the character they were addressing, I was unsure of this technique of breaking the fourth wall, which unless established more consistently throughout as a narrative style can look at odds with the rest of the action.

Carol Crooks playing Jessie the disillusioned retired teacher - strong & takes no nonsense and has probably seen all there is to see. Up for the calendar as long as ‘no front bottoms’ – brilliant! I would definitely behave in her class.

James Partington as Lawrence the photographer who worked at the hospital as a porter and spent his time wheeling John about the hospital. He arrived on stage with jeans tucked in bicycle clips around his ankles and a head torch. His mannerisms and stance hilarious especially when he realised they will be naked and also the scene when he sees his ex-teacher Jessie. Loved how his face conveyed what he was thinking before he spoke - so funny!

Last but not least Sarah Helsby-Hughes who plays trophy wife Celia. What perfect casting, you could see the delight she had playing the part. Always bringing a new energy onto stage. Her speech about the golf club and the women there gave you an insight into her not so perfect life and the fact the WI is her lifeline – excellent!

Let’s not forget here when a society decides to do Calendar Girls they are naked, sorry – nudity (!) is involved and it takes guts. Women of a certain age I applaud you, it was done tastefully and was funny. The audience lapped it up. Well done.

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