Calendar Girls

I knew I was going to be entertained but the company’s performance exceeded my expectations. The opening sequence of the ladies’ perfunctory attempts in their exercise class were hilarious and set both the tone and the characters’ traits for the events to come. The ladies all gelled, fed off one another, their relationships developed and foundered and all with realistic poignancy from a talented and experienced group. The story is now well known of how after John’s death from cancer, the ladies wanted to buy a bench for the hospital in his memory and how they created the calendar of tastefully arranged nudes to raise funds. Annie’s relationship with her husband John was portrayed as loving and close but not maudlin. Alistair Thomas imbued this role as a likeable man of humour, care and common sense and one whose presence stayed. Judith Hutchinson, in reprising the role of his wife Annie, drew on her experience to give a highly nuanced and measured performance, combining humour and gravitas; coping with death and grief without drama yet revealing her love and pain - absolutely believable. As her friend Chris, Pam Murray was a driving force, from taking the dance classes to arranging the photo shoots and the disastrous advertising scene. She put her own marriage relationship in jeopardy with her focus and energy on helping and raising funds. She caught the ‘busy ness’ of the role and added her own brand of subversive humour. Taking us forward in the comedy stakes was Louise Fairnie as Ruth. Her handling of the comments in her rabbit costume and her reactions to the suggestion of posing for a nude calendar were priceless. Throughout, her lines were beautifully timed for comedic effect yet seemed disingenuous and natural. I am sure Chris Mitchell who took on the roll on alternate nights would likewise entertain. Kate Halliday, reprising her role of Jessie, was a calm influence yet she also brought out the wry humour of a retired teacher who revelled in the moment she revealed to the photographer that she had taught him. The lad Aidan Caffley’s reactions were a hoot, and overall he put in an energetic and keen performance. A different role entirely was Marie the chair of their group. Candice Sullivan cleanly delivered the organising and managing social climber with the ever ready retort to suggestions - a great foil to the other ladies and wonderfully scandalised at the idea of such a calendar. Meanwhile Chiara Loia as Cora the piano player and Suzie Smail as the attractive, go ahead lady hiding her assets with the ‘big buns’, both played the parts with panache. In smaller but no less effective roles were Angela Over as the mind numbing speaker Brenda on Broccoli and Carol Collier the condescending Lady Cravenshire - it is all in the names. Stephen Clarke gained sympathy for his roll of neglected husband Rod. The younger talent of Holly Marshall as Elaine the makeup artist exuding enthusiasm and David Hastie as Liam the laid back TV advert producer promises well for the future. The producer nicely matched his cast and directed them to interpret the action in ways for the audience to appreciate all threads of the play. The set was well constructed and well used to adapt to the different scenes of church hall and the outdoor hill with all the sunflowers. The props of tea trolley of cakes, of flower display and the use of the piano for all the photo shoots were well used and the singing of the same hymn in the different occasions and in differing moods unified the whole. This was a splendid production. Congratulations to all.

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