Calendar Girls

Calendar Girls, based on a true story by Tim Firth about a Women’s Institute who decide to do a nude calendar to raise money for a settee in the relative’s room. They have no idea what this will take them to in terms of fame: a film, play and musical - with all three collecting awards along the way.

Turnpike have an unusual situation in that they have to strike the set and re-build every night in order for other users of the building. The composite set, mostly located in a hall where the WI meet. With walls of green at the bottom and cream at the top, pictures and notices adorn the walls. Upstage Centre are double doors and Stage Left is an entrance with a curtain. Stage Right is a piano with stool and folding wooden chairs are stacked around the room.  Upstage Left is a wooden flat with hatch and movable stairs, also used for other scenes. The set is simple and functional allowing for quick scene changes. Various props and trollies are then brought on to add to the scene. I would just say that liquid was used for the girls drinking vodka which was great but the beer bottles would have looked better with liquid in too - especially as it was used to drink from. Set Design Richard Pilkington and Neil Gredecki. Stage Manager Alexis Hollis.

Lighting and Sound all added to the show - Lead Technician Stuart Hill and Technician Alan Boardman. Costumes all looked good and fitting.

Neil Gredecki directs and says in the notes it’s a show which was planned to do pre-lockdown and he definitely brings out the comedy as it’s evident to see what fun the cast is having fun on stage, despite it being challenging to anyone taking clothes off on stage and trust in your cast members to preserve your modesty.  The cast also produce their own naked sorry! nude calendar in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

Dee Urmston takes on the role of National Chair of the WI with suitably disapproving demeanour. Sarah Masters plays Brenda Hulse who tries to win us over with Broccoli. Ann McKeever is Lady Cravenshire giving us cut glass accent and grace. Lauren Allister gives us Elaine playing the Gen Z with every word she speaks.

Danny Tooby plays the efficient Liam who just wants to get the job done. Paul Hilton is the photographer Lawrence, whose embarrassment was evident and funny: hilarious when Jessie reminded him she was his school teacher. Sue Slack plays Marie the chair of the local WI and wants things done by the book. But hidden behind her keeping-up-with-the-Jones’ she just wants to be liked. Sue had an array of withering looks which all landed with her put downs - hilarious.

Richard Pilkington played Rod, Chris’ happy-go-lucky, supportive husband. Great energy on every entrance and giving some lightness to often difficult situations. Not over played and pitched just right. Mark Bassett takes on the role of John having to establish his character pretty quickly and portray a man dealing with the cancer diagnosis – this was done sensitively and his empathy for the role was evident.

Laura Gredecki plays Celia the trophy wife not quite fitting in at the golf club, tanned and full make up and tight outfits. She is outwardly confident and finds her home with the women at the WI. Again, some one great one liners and not afraid to come back at people. Loved the moment flirting with Lawrence until he mentioned her age. Andrea Peters plays Ruth - put upon by most people including the chair Marie and her husband. You get the feeling she uses the group as refuge and out of everyone is probably the most liberated by doing the calendar - Andrea did her justice with the character journey. The rabbit hood she wore that she had made and the mis-naming of it by the other characters was so funny.

Hannah Boardman plays Cora the vicar’s daughter. Searching for something that becomes evident toward the end. Not wanting to go into detail about the problems with her daughter and confined by her upbringing, doing the calendar is very liberating for her. Hannah used the jokes and put downs well as her armour.

Jeanette Wilkinson played Jessie the retired school teacher who is not going to age gracefully. Jessie will be the first in the queue to get her kit off, not giving a flying fig: great speech about ageing and if you dismiss her? . . . woe betide! For the women of a certain age, this was great characterisation and the one-liners hit the mark.  hilarious.

Antia Grace took on the role of Annie whose husband John is what the calendar is all about. You get the feeling she is swept along at speed by the project. The moment when the letters come cascading down was definitely a lump in the throat moment from the audience point of view. It was then it all made sense to Chris and as she spends the night in the church reading all the letters and knowing she is not alone and how they have helped others. Anita’s friendship with Chris and her relationship with her husband came across well. Her friendship with Chris played by Kate Sweeney was a strong one and Kate played Chris full of fun and a little bit naughty always up there and Centre Stage – you’d want Chris on your side. While appearing to want to do the calendar for selfish reasons it does come across she is just so full of life she jumps into things without thinking. Kate had great energy and definitely got the character with a twinkle in her eye.

Calendar Girls is empowering and puts women of a certain age in a different light. All the women have their own challenges to overcome but what is evident is how strong women are when they support and come together. Yes, this show can be acted out and you can act the coming together and the friendship but what this show had was a real sense of friendship which was palpable to the audience. Congratulations to Turnpike Community Theatre. Thank you for the invite and hospitality from my guest Cathryn and I.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

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