Calendar Girls

This moving play is based on a real life event from 1998 when John Baker died from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The story was turned into a popular film in 2003 which as yet I have not seen. Tim Firth wrote this adaptation, first performed in 2009, of the way the characters went about raising money for charity through their local Women’s Institute.  Now being acquainted with the contents of the play, I would also be interested in seeing the 2015 musical adaptation with Gary Barlow’s music added to Tim Firth’s dialogue.  

The two people initiating the calendar idea were Annie (Pam Stringer) and Chris (Julie Jordan). They were being supported respectively by their husbands John (Mark Barnes) and Rod (Peter Woodman). The two girls had lots of dialogue and plenty of happy and otherwise interactions through the process of the making of the calendar. This was very well portrayed. The rest of the girls coming forward to take part were Cora (Emma Godden), the pianist of the W.I. and church organist, Jessie (Aimee Bullimore) and Celia (Debz Ravera), the newest recruit to the group. The final one was Ruth (Lia Roper) who needed a lot of persuasion and, until the actual day of the shoot, was reluctant to take part. All of these girls were cast well and had, and kept, their characters throughout. The president of the branch Marie (Carol Clark) was kept out of any discussions about the project because she was very reluctant to change the usual theme of country scenes and the like and thought  it was inappropiate.  The parts of visiting speaker Brenda Hulse and make-up artist Elaine were suitably played by Grace Brandon. The rather embarassed photographer Lawrence was enacted well  by Will Watson.

Most of the action took place in the church hall which was the main set. The set was  designed with minimal props which multipled rapidly before the disrobing and photographic session. This was very cleverly executed.  Lighting, sound effects and scene changing were all quick and efficient. I did consider that the music for the opening and that chosen for the scene changes (Christmas, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, etc.) in order to mark the passing of time was absolutely apposite.

Congratulations to all on stage, back stage, the set makers and designers and all the production team. An extremely entertaining evening.

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