Calendar Girls

A very close knit and obviously ‘friends’ team for the six calendar girls: this team work was excellent and left one feeling that they really did bond and feel for each other and compliment each other in the characters: this worked to perfection. The two main characters Annie and Chris were supportive and yet sparked off each other, obviously a very long-term friendship and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each other; Jill Emmerson as Annie had her quiet moments especially in her love for John, but came through at the important moments and fizzled with the Chris of Judi Mars who was personality plus and pushing the episodes in a sparkling interpretation of the role as she led the calendar campaign, and not always peacefully. The other girls had realised their potential to the full in their different interpretations and interactions: the comedy and pathos were brought out fully in this production. As Cora, Lorna Tucker brought out the supposed ‘shame’ but strength of a single parent with that delight at the end to the happy finale of her relationship, Jean Kinkaid as Jessie had the wry humour displayed as retired school teacher, Julia Rymer as Celia showed up the golf club snobbery and her hidden insecurity with a sexy performance, and as Ruth, Toni Penson was diffident but surprising in her character and bravery of approach as her role developed: these four girls with the other two really did work out so well in all moments of laughter and seriousness. A strong character in Marie from Suzanne Kingston as she struggled to control her WI group. The two husbands cast well in the relationships, good performances from Gerald Wilson as Rod in his slightly stormy mix with Chris and from Andrew Liddon in his central role. The particularly poignant sequence on film of Annie and John in their happier times in Yorkshire really pulled on the heart strings and made one appreciate the significance of the later situation, excellent. Other roles well cast and the whole mix worked to give the expected professional output from the Players, and of course Scenic played their part in setting off the play and giving good background to the acting.

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