Calendar Girls

I had ventured North from Kings Lynn to Spalding; a place I have never visited before to go to the South Holland Centre and watch a production that I had last seen about twelve years ago and remembered very little of. This wasn’t a large theatre but with the red upholstery and closed red curtains it felt cosy and comfortable. It made a nice change not to see an open stage, so when the tabs opened, they revealed a nicely dressed stage with back drop panels presenting a photographic image of the interior of a village hall. The three legs either side were photographic panels of the Yorkshire Countryside. In addition, two cloths swished across, one of the countryside and the final one showing fields of sunflowers.

We meet the six calendar girls together with their inspiration for the calendar, John who was portrayed sympathetically by David Broughton who went from an active husband to an ill wheelchair bound man who struggled for breath, helped by the losing of the wig, successfully showing the deteriorating health, not a large role but when well played as here, essential to the story.

It is the relationship between the six calendar girls, the emotions that are shown, the laughter and the tears, the strengths and the weaknesses of each character that have to be conveyed to the audience. The audience can then identify with the characters, laugh with them and cry with them. These six ladies did this with spades, Jennie Slinsgsby as Annie and Ruth Markham as Chris gave us two great friends who supported each through loss and laughter giving strength to each other before their falling out and partial reconciliation all realistically displayed. Wendy Trevor’s Cora gave us the strong sassy Vicar’s daughter, forever aware of her status as a single mother determined to go ahead with whatever befell her, a strong performance full of fun but with its serious moments. Wendy Green gave us the thoughtful and serious older lady, retired teacher Jessie, thoughtful but delighted in shocking photographer Lawrence. Julie Howlett was well cast as the imperious Celia a vibrant character being a golf widow with the resentment underneath of being dragged to Yorkshire, she played this role to a T. We come to the reluctant Ruth whose insecurities were well portrayed by Katy Blessett coping with a wandering husband never at home, always wanting to support the WI Chair. Not sure of her role in the calendar girls but eventually delightfully revealing an inner strength. These 6 ladies had a delightful rapport, good delivery of lines with great timing and good stage presence.

Yvonne Pummell gave us a great WI Chairwoman Marie; a well-placed performance and I particularly enjoyed the performance of Bradley Jackson as Lawrence. John Stevens gave great support as flower shop owner Rod to both his friend John and wife Chris. There were good cameos for several cast members Lynn Stevens, Jasmin Cowdell, Alison Duff, Lina Rogalla and Ryan Arnold as Liam.

This was a well-directed production, efficient scene changes quickly performed, these worked particularly well with both cast and some crew move furniture, props etc. There was an excellent selection of well designed and built props for the photographic sequences. Much thought with props such as the slide projector in the opening scene, some of the personal props carried by members of the cast and the sunflowers at the close. Great vocals for the songs, sound was great throughout, there was a thoughtful lighting plot and very good costumes with quick changes, which was obviously helped by having a team of dressers backstage, altogether a good production which the company needs to be proud of. I laughed (which I don’t do that often) and cried, Well done all.

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