Calendar Girls, The Musical

Back in 1999, I learnt from Anne Lane’s informative programme notes, a calendar was launched that not only raised a huge amount of money for charity, but also spawned a series of stage shows.  Calendar Girls the play was first performed at the Norbury in 2013 (as part of an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the most produced play), and now the story is back in the theatre with Calendar Girls, the Musical. 

Calendar Girls, the Musical is based around the true-life story of Chris and Annie – a pair of Yorkshire lasses who come up with a barmy plan to raise money for the local hospital following the death of Annie’s husband, John.  They, along with a gaggle of reluctant members of their WI, decide to strip off for a calendar, with their modesty preserved by a series of judiciously placed objects.  This plan faces the opposition of traditionalist chair Marie, who is facing her own difficulties controlling her rebellious daughter Jenny (herself a romantic target for Chris’s son Danny.)  You’d have to have been living under a rock not to know that, ultimately, the ladies emerge nakedly triumphant, and a whole genre of calendars is born! 

Britt Needham and Jacque Cook formed a great partnership as Chris and Annie respectively – the friendship between them was totally believable and provided a strong anchor for the show.  David Goode was also strong as the unfortunate John, in a good depiction of physical decline which hit all the right emotional beats.  He also had good chemistry with Jacque, which is really important, as their relationship provides the impetus for all that follows.  

There were effective performances too from the other main calendar girls, Vicky Moloney (Ruth), Jo Hargreaves (Cora), Mary Steele (Celia), and Kate Goode (Jessie).  They, and the other WI members portrayed, developed a very congenial atmosphere, and were convincing as a group of people who enjoyed spending time together.  They garnered plenty of knowing laughs from the audience at the gentle barbs that the script aims at the Women’s Institute.  This being the opening night, there must have been lots of nerves about the final scenes, but the cast never let it show, which I think is no mean feat!  A shout out too, to Katie Ingram, Sheila Hampton and Natalie Hothi, who also revealed all (sort of) as the three Miss Wilsons. 

Christa Gaskell was suitably snobby as the straight-laced Marie, showing the character’s frustration as she was thwarted at every turn, until her eventual conversion to the cause.  And John Birchley, Hugh Raymer and James Cowlishaw were entertaining as the somewhat bemused men in these ladies’ lives, whilst Alex Stallard had a nice line in awkwardness as the photographer whose job it was to capture them naked. 

Amongst the younger cast members, Beth Smith captured Jenny’s insouciant rebelliousness perfectly, and Alex Ingram and Connor Hassan formed a very funny double act as Danny and Tommo – mining a rich seam of adolescent awkwardness.  Completing the cast were Sandra Luff as the unfortunate Brenda, who never did quite manage to give her presentation, and Jan Miller-Weir as Lady Cravenshire – handing out prizes that were not necessarily deserved! 

Director Anne Lane put an emphasis on the comedy in the script, which was, in turn, effective to highlight the sadder, more emotional beats of the story.  Rhiannon Clarke contributed some neat choreography, particularly during the group numbers.  The six-piece band was well led by musical director Ben Thompson, although I felt they were a bit too loud, particularly in the first half, making it difficult to hear some of the vocals. 

The musical was performed before a nice backdrop of the Yorkshire hills, which set the scene very effectively.  Perhaps it might have been nice to delineate the interior scenes a little more, as it otherwise looked as though the WI met outside!  The all-important pieces of furniture props that preserve the ladies’ modesty were to a very high standard, and perfectly designed to do their job! 

Hearty congratulations to all at the Norbury for making the return of Calendar Girls, the Musical such a great success (as the sold out audiences clearly testified!)  A particular round of applause to those who took the plunge and took their clothes off, in fitting tribute to those women who bravely blazed the trail 25 years ago. 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.