UK Theatre Network

Calendar Girls

By Tim Firth

Based on the Miramax film ‘Calendar Girls’ written by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth

Produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers.   Associate Producer Stoneface Productions. This Production Directed by Psyche Stott.

Reviewed by Sue Marks at Milton Keynes Theatre on Monday 15^th March 2010.

Inevitably this production will be compared with the film which, it must be admitted, was dominated by the excellent performance of Julie Walters.  This is not the case in this production, there is not a star, but a whole set of powerful performances by some of the best actresses on the stage today. For pure brashness it is difficult to decide between Chris played by Lynda Bellingham or Cora taken by Letitia Dean, who both managed to personify upfront, in your face, Yorkshire lasses. My favourite performance was that given by Hannah Waterman as the retiring but ultimately feisty Ruth. Jan Harvey took the role of Annie whose husband’s untimely death from cancer is the ultimate motivation behind the calendar. Gemma Atkinson is superb as Celia, the trophy wife, struggling with the snooty golf club where she doesn’t fit in. Judith Barker gave a powerful, yet subdued performance as the retired teacher, Jessie.  Richenda Carey gave a believable portrayal of Marie, the prim and proper leader of the local Women’s Institute.      

Calendar Girls is very funny, the audience spent a lot of time laughing, but it is also very poignant in places which brought a tear to the eyes. Colin Tarrant brought dignity and a rustic charm to his character, John, even though his demise has occurred a third of the way through the play. (I loved the device used to illustrate his end, which could only be used on stage). Michael Peluso was particularly funny as the gifted amateur photographer who John had met at the hospital and who eventually took the photos for the calendar.

The music was not intrusive, yet I suspect vital in setting the ambience at several points in the play and was supported by Letitia Dean playing the piano sparingly. I was, however, surprised by what an excellent voice she had.  The costumes whilst fairly commonplace worked well and there were occasional touches of excess such as Lynda Bellingham’s flower outfit.

The scenery and props looked fairly simple, yet were probably a good deal more complex than this initial appearance suggested.  The rolling Yorkshire hills were there as a backdrop and side screens and somehow managed not to intrude in scenes which were clearly indoors. The W I meeting rooms were uncomfortably believable with their hatch and notice boards and that familiar ritual of setting out the chairs. Part of the stage was automated to provide John’s hill complete with strings of pop – up sunflowers.

I thought that the nudity worked rather better in the play than the film, there was a certain modesty to it which somehow got lost in the film. It is surprising that a play which confronts the death of our loved ones via an insidious disease can have such a feel - good factor yet this manages to pull it off and the audience leaves smiling.

Calendar Girls plays Milton Keynes Theatre from Monday 15^th March to Saturday 27^th March 2010. Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee).

The tour then continues playing Theatre Royal Newcastle from Monday 29^th March to Saturday 10^th April 2010.

www.miltonkeynestheatre.com www.seecalendargirls.com

Reviewed by Sue Marks at Milton Keynes Theatre on Monday 15^th March 2010 on behalf of Catherine Brian.