Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls is the play, adapted by Colin Firth, from his own film of the same name. The film was a tremendous success; and so it can be a bit challenging for an amateur group to try to replicate that impact, with the novelty of the nudity and the fast-changing scenes. 

The Green Room Theatre was crowded for this popular play. The stage was bare, assisting movement of furniture, props, etc. There was good selection and usage of props, especially for the photography scene and the sunflowers at the end. The handling of the fan-mail was a bit clunky and provoked some sniggers before we listened to the (often) moving messages. Costumes were modern and well chosen for the different members of the cast. Indoor and outdoor backdrops were created with projections; and lighting and sound were smoothly done.

The play opened with the ladies struggling with a very funny Tai Chi exercise…and we’re straightaway into Women’s Institute territory.

Annie (Sarah-Jane Vincent) and Chris (Victoria Keegan) were the twin strikers. Their close friendship and  their ongoing rebellion against Chairwomen Marie (Linda Kelly) were handled with great humour and feeling. It’s a friendship that’s tested when Annie’s husband John (played by Jamie McCandlish) falls ill and when Chris’s husband Rod’s business is in trouble (Paul Le Blaunc Smith); but ultimately they are reconciled.

Their fellow WI members were a disparate bunch: Victoria Swaine played Cora, a pianist & single mother; Jill Derbie was the retired schoolteacher, Jessie, who was up for one more adventure; Celia (Nichola Dalziel) was happy to shock the snobs at the golf-club and Gayle Banks played Ruth, a timid little mouse who rebels when her husband betrays her.

Linda McMahon took on the very different roles of Lady Cravenshire & Brenda; Jon Day was both Lawrence the shy photographer & Liam the smooth PR man and Elaine, the make-up girl, was played by Pippa Banks.

The nudity was handled with great subtlety and good humour. After 20 years of Calendar Girls, it’s not going to shock the audiences, but it is still going to be a challenge for the participants.

Calendar Girls unashamedly tugs at the heart-strings. It’s about friendship and support, but also deals with the consequences of making choices and priorities.

In this production, all of the characters were quickly and clearly established; and they were utterly believable. This was a tribute to the actors’ skills and efforts, and to Lynne Smart-Steel’s fine direction.

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