Calendar Girls The Musical

Calendar Girls The Musical is written by Gary Barlow & Tim Firth, based on the play Calendar Girls by Tim Firth and the motion picture also by Tim Firth & Juliette Towhidi. This Musical is based on a true story. The music and lyrics by Gary Barlow has added a new layer to the whole peice giving it real emotion and meaning. Musical Director Matt Timmins has a great orchrestra, and the cast singing is just right.

The set is good, the main stage is used for the majority of the scenes but one side is the flower shop and the other the garden. This lets the scenes move quickly from one to the other. Lighting & sound also works well. Director Jane Howell has a great cast for this production, everyone has good charactisations, and they all work well together.

The story follows a group of women who belong to the Yorkshire Women's Institute. All with their own stories to unfold, its a very moving show. The main story is of Annie played by Suzy Collins, she is totally beliveable in the role, and her husband John played by David Kehoe, who has a real warmth and sensitivity about him as he undergoes cancer treatment. They work well together and there are some lovely moments of togetherness and uncertainty. Her hospitial visits are many and after John's death she wants to get a new sofa to replaced the old tatty one in the waiting room. Chris, superbly played by Lucie Evans, is Annie's best friend, this really comes across. They have a great friendship, some funny lines and are a good comfort to each other. Her husband Rod is played by Tim McConnell - he's a calming influence on Chris as she's always the first to volunteer, has a great sence of humour, and playful rebelliousness.

Chris comes up with idea to raise funds for a new sofa by creating a nude calendar in John's memory with the help of the WI. Chris is the first to take her bra off in the fields much to her son Danny's horror. Danny is played by Alex Freed, he was great as the teenager trying to find his way in the world. The WI ladies had lots of different personalities each adding their own bit of the story and solo moments. Danielle Morris played Cora the WI pianist, a single mum and vicars daughter she sang a great song 'Who Wants a Silent Night'. Rachel Stebbings plays Celia, I loved her song 'I've Had A Little Work Done', another great song was sung by Sally Ager playing Ruth 'My Russian Friend And I' with some good comic timing. Naomi Gibson played Jessie the retired Headmistress, Anna Wallis played Marie the branch leader and her rebellious daughter Jenny was played by Eleanor Cheetham who ends up with Chris's son Danny.

They agree to do the Calendar except Marie, the branch leader, and they get Lawrence played by Tom Buxton to take the photos, this was funny with the ladies holding up cakes, or knitting etc to hide themselves from exposure. I loved the Miss Coffee by Hazel Burgess & Miss Tea by Dawn Symonds when they came out just wearing an apron and holding the tea & coffee pot in front of them. They raise the money for the new sofa.

The audience really laughed. It was a great production. Well done to you all. 

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