Calendar Girls

                  

I was warmly welcomed at Front of House and met the Director, Kerry King at the end of the performance. The action took place in the Rylstone Village Hall in Yorkshire with an attractive set designed by David Thompson. It was well constructed by the society with a number of entrances and windows and a serving hatch. Various props were brought on and off  by cast members to denote changes.

This was a very polished production with tremendous stage presence and great acting by all the cast throughout. There was a great deal of comedy and innuendo taking place and all the actors projected their voices extremely well.

Alison Baker, as Annie was hesitant about the idea of producing a calendar to raise funds for leukaemia following Annie’s husband’s diagnosis. However, she was persuaded to go ahead by her friend Chris, played by Jo Palmer. Jo was enthusiastic and a driving force determined to persuade other WI members to take part. Alison and Jo were very well paired and played to each other’s strengths. One by one other WI members were persuaded to join in. Jo Parrick, as Celia was suitably bossy and Jazmin Chandler played Cora, a single mother who was rather immature. Jazmin led the singing and piano accompaniment and grew into this role.

Helen Bridge, as Jessie a retired teacher played this character well as a bossy woman prone to sharp and acerbic comments. Sharon Carter, as Ruth was convincing as a nervous woman, lacking in confidence and who agreed to take part very reluctantly. All these actors played their roles so convincingly and with huge enjoyment. They all used plenty of movement around the stage and there were some wonderful facial expressions. Everyone was very busy on stage throughout.

 I thought Dawn King, as Marie, the WI Chair performed this important role well, being subservient to the National President and then relaxing in a badminton match. Jane Fisher, as Brenda Hulse, the President, was suitably outraged to hear about the planned calendar and departed the stage in an officious manner.

There were a few males in the cast! Les Chisnall, as John, Annie’s husband, had a major role which he played with strength and sensitivity. The audience observed his gradual decline from an active husband to a wheelchair bound invalid and his ultimate death. Les played through these changes with great feeling and passion. Ryan Curtis was Chris’s husband Rod, not always supportive of his wife.  Jonathan Abbott, as the photographer Lawrence was energetic and persuasive and displayed some wonderful facial expressions.

Small roles were undertaken by Loraine Crook, as Lady Cravenshire, the competition judge (how regal and imposing she was !), Eleanor Chandler, as the beautician and Sarah Suckling, as the TV Production Manager. There was a small group of other WI ladies, all essential to the plot.

The costumes were all very authentic, especially the Victorian costumes of the carol singers. Sound levels were all appropriate as was the lighting. There were some effects projected onto a rear screen, including photos of the calendar girls and a lovely scene of sunflowers at the end.

This was a superb production and I congratulate Director, Kerry King on her vision and innovation and her ability to bring out the best from this talented cast. Well done to everyone involved. The audience, myself included, certainly enjoyed the evening very much.

 

 

 

 

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