Calendar Girls The Musical

The Adrian Mann is a fine modern theatre that is part of the Nescot college campus. We had a very friendly welcome; and settled down amongst a very full and excited audience.

Calendar Girls The Musical is adapted from the film Calendar Girls by Tim Firth. Gary Barlow wrote the music; and co-wrote the lyrics with Tim.

The programme was beautifully designed, packed with information on the company and production, and filled with fun photographs.

The set was lovely, with good use of projection. Lighting was attractive and used well throughout.

Sound was mixed efficiently. Voices were always crystal clear. Dennis Clark-Hooker’s music was enchanting…always sensitive and well-timed. But where was the band hiding ?

Stage management was smooth and unobtrusive. Furniture and props used naturally and effectively.

Liv Chaffe’s direction gave tremendous life and humour to the characters. The performances were believable and fascinating.

Yorkshire was an excellent opening number, warm and stirring as we met the ensemble.

We watched John’s decline and felt for him and Annie. Great performances and singing by Jamie Brown and Helen Wilson.

Emma Allen sang gloriously as Chris…loved the eureka moment in Sunflower. She interacted well with her family and with Annie.

Cora (Shannon Hearn) also sang beautifully and was an excellent bad girl.

Bernice Baker gave a very fine portrayal of Jessie, the elderly ex-teacher who commanded respect from everyone. Shades of Margaret Rutherford.

Lyn Robinson Menzies’ Celia was beautifully played and her song So I’ve Had a Little Work Done was burlesque and extremely funny.

Gill Varon was so buttoned-up as Ruth, oppressed and betrayed. Loved her song My Russian Friend and I; and her eventual liberation.

The fellers also excelled; with Rod (Peter O’Donovan), Colin (Colin Jackson) and Denis (Peter Brooker) giving great singing and support to their wives and the show.

The “teenagers” were natural and delightful with Callum Durrant playing a vivid Danny; and ably supported by Paige Fayers as Jenny and Kate Kendall Weiss as Tommo.

But everyone contributed enormously to this production.

The excellent songs fitted so well with the dialogue and comedy that there was nothing artificial or stilted. For me, the musical seemed more truthful and less shrill than the film or the play.

Fifteen months ago, we came to see HMOS reunited in Together at Last. It was a minimalist show that celebrated the society’s survival of Covid and the members’ hopes for the future.

Clearly, the future is bright. Calendar Girls was a superb production. I look forward to many more.

Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Graham Botterill

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