Calendar Girls”

For their 70th Anniversary year summer production, SPADS had chosen Tim Firth’s stage version of the award-winning film, “Calendar Girls”.  This proved a very popular choice, with sell-outs for every performance.   The uplifting, true-life story of Annie and best friend Chris, both members of Knapeley WI, is familiar to us all.  They persuade fellow WI members to pose nude with them for an “alternative” WI calendar to raise money for charity, despite opposition from Marie, their WI Chairwoman.  The calendar is an immediate, run-away, success, but as news of their charitable venture becomes national, the pressures of the resultant publicity and celebrity tests friendships to the limit. The in-house stage crew had constructed a well-designed set, depicting a typical church hall interior with suitable props, where most of the action takes place.  With mood lighting and suitable background music in between the various scenes to denote the changing seasons, the set worked well and with minimal changes ensured that a good pace was maintained throughout.  The central folding section in the “back wall of the hall” to reveal “John’s hill” worked well, particularly in “John’s” atmospheric death scene and use of lectern with sound and lighting effects in front of the main stage curtains at the opening of Act II, to depict the annual WI conference in London, also worked and allowed a seamless transition into the next scene. Patrick Lohan, in his debut role as Director, had ensured that both the comedy and pathos within the play was brought to the fore.  This was borne out by the cast who, without exception, gave tremendous performances.  Annabel Clarke as “Chris”, the driving force behind the venture, put in a strong and feisty performance, well-matched by Helen Lohan, as “Annie”, with a convincing performance as Chris’s friend, whose scenes with Alan Reilly, well-portrayed as terminally ill husband “John”, were particularly moving.  Good performances, too, from Leri Wright as “Cora”; Jenny Rosendale as “Jessie”; Ellen Millar as “Celia” and Debbie Stoten as “Ruth”, who had all agreed to pose “nude” and were very brave to bare all on stage.  The scene with “Lawrence” the photographer, extremely well-acted by Joshua  Clarke, was hilariously funny, yet tastefully choreographed with a wealth of strategically placed props and deservedly won rapturous applause from the audience!Theresa Millar also put in a good performance as disapproving and naïve Knapeley WI Chair “Marie”, as did Nigel Jones as “Chris’s” stoical husband “Rob”.  Completing the cast were Lesley Clarke as “Brenda Hulse” (WI guest speaker); Linda Griggs as “Lady Cravenshire” (WI regional baking competition judge); Lauren Parrish as “Elaine” (“Ruth’s” husband Eddie’s little bit on the side) and Chris Routledge as “Liam” (the washing powder commercial guy!)

A memorable and enjoyable evening’s entertainment – congratulations to all involved with the production.

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