Calendar Girls The Musical

CALENDAR GIRLS - THE MUSICAL

Presented by

MUSICAL THEATRE STAFFORD

Based on the hit 2003 film Calendar Girls, the musical written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth captures the essence of the story of everyday Yorkshire folk dealing with a life changing event, the true story of Angela Baker dealing with the passing of her husband John Baker diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in February 1998, who after a few months treatment sadly died aged 54.

Sparked by an idea from her life-long friend and fellow Women’s Institute member Chris, played by Jo Sedgley Chiles. Annie (Angela), Tracey Brough Chesters decides to raise money for a memorial settee to be placed in the family room of the Skipton General cancer ward where John was treated by jazzing up the WI’s traditional calendar offerings by producing a tastefully posed nude one.

Neville Leedham’s portrayal of John was very well observed, the poignancy of his first public outing with friends after chemotherapy hair loss was familiar to so many people. The cast portrayals produced thought provoking and emotionally moving realisation to all, particularly anyone who has ever lost a friend, loved one or relative to this most insidious and indiscriminate of diseases.

A simple set, interspersed with flower barrows, tea trolleys, tables and chairs took the audience to wherever they needed to be. Unfortunately, the often lit stage right view under the set during scene changes detracted somewhat from where we were sat, momentarily dispelling belief in the scene set on stage.

Opening number embraced the underlying optimism of life in God’s country, with a repeating theme throughout, (maybe a little too repeated) the whole production was littered with great humour and interaction between friends, neighbours and colleagues. The genius of Tim Firth’s beautifully presented lyrics gave you laugh out loud comedy in one line then seamlessly moving you to tears of sadness in the next.

Stalwart performances from all of the cast throughout, I really enjoyed Ruth as a character played with great restrained humour by Carole Langford.

Not content with her Director role, Rachel Miller, stepped up excellently as an instant stand in for Jessie, a covid stricken Isobel Walter, Rachel crafted a perfect evening’s entertainment. Aided and abetted by a fantastic team. The show, a very human story, was subtle, incredibly emotive, very well cast and utterly believable. You believed and cared for these characters, knowing they were real people having gone through this, telling their collective tale. The scene with the poses for the calendar was treated with reverence and bravery from the girls involved rightly applauded by the enraptured audience.

The Musical Director Liz Talbot’s superb band fabulously accompanied well-rehearsed and gifted vocalists; full cast vocal harmonies were richly stunning.

Hilarious, poignant, a highly emotionally charged rollercoaster of a performance of an inspirational story.

 

 

 

 

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