'You will laugh, you will cry and you will probably want to go and see it again' is Jane McGowan's review of Calendar Girls showing at the New Victoria Theatre until March 30...
OUR VERDICT
The story of the rebel WI members who, in order to raise funds for a settee in the relatives' room after one of their members lost her husband to cancer, decided to produce a nude calendar with little more than iced buns to protect their modesty, is the stuff of legend.
The uplifting tale of British gumption and cheek (if you'll pardon the pun) captured the hearts of the nation, being turned into a film (starring Dames Helen Mirren and Julie Walters in 2003) and later a hit stage play. Now it's a full-blown musical, created by Tim Firth and another British institution Take That's Gary Barlow.
The tale begins on a typical Yorkshire morning, and as the mist rises to reveal the rural splendour of the Dales, we are introduced to the cast - basically the members of the WI, their partners and children. Life follows a steady pace for the residents of this tiny village until it is revealed that Annie's beloved husband John has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Hopes are high for a happy ending during Christmas carols on the green but by the time the May Fair comes around John's condition has worsened and as the sun sets, so we are informed that Annie has lost her beloved husband. She wants something to honour him by and settles upon a settee for the visitors' lounge at the hospital, and while most people may have held a sponsored walk, cake sale to raise funds, Annie's big mouthed (but equally big-hearted ) best friend comes up with the idea of a nude calendar ... the rest, as they say, is history.
This production is a joy from start to finish. The cast work so beautifully as an ensemble, perfectly capturing the friendship of these 'ordinary' women. All female life is here - the attractive, slightly brassy wife not quite up to golf club standards; the shy put-upon homemaker who finally leaves her cheating husband; the snobby WI chairman whose adolescent daughter is going off the rails and the single mum, forced to go back to her vicar father after getting 'knocked up behind Morrisons'.
There are many familiar showbiz faces - Denise Welch is excellent as the brassy Celia - only too happy to get her kit off as Miss July; Fern Britton effortlessly makes the move from TV presenter to actor and has some glorious moments as the snobby Marie, while Sara Crowe brings the house down with her tipsy turn as the repressed Ruth. The lead roles of Annie and Chris are played by West End musical favourites Anna-Jane Casey and Rebecca Storm and both women more than succeeded in mastering Barlow's musical numbers.
The first half is packed with songs and there are plenty of laughs to be had, but the tragedy is never far away and the audience seemed to be readying itself for the coming blow. However, the second half which is taken up mostly by the historic photo shoot is pure happiness. The clever staging means we never actually see anything more than the actress wants us to, although by the end of the scene a couple of characters seem more than happy to give us a flash or two. Firth's writing really comes into its own as we laugh along and squeal with the cast. I would have to say that 90% of the audience was made up of women of a certain age who were all having great fun identifying with the characters.
The show is beautifully designed and the warmth and atmospheric lighting design leave us in no doubt why Yorkshire is termed 'God's Own County'.
Calendar Girls tells such an important story - of how it is possible to create something wonderful out of such bitter loss; of what lengths people are prepared to go to help another human being and the value of community and sisterhood when the chips are down. You will laugh, you will cry and you will probably want to go and see it again. I know I do!
Venue: New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Dates: March 30 (visit: atgtickets.com)
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