New Theatre Wimbledon – until 4 November 2023
Reviewer Alec Legge
5 *****
To that gem of a theatre, The New Wimbledon Theatre, to see this marvellously entertaining musical.
Calendar Girls is a musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, which tells the well loved story of a group of WI Ladies from Yorkshire, who, after one of their number lost her husband to cancer, decided to make a calendar to sell in order raise enough money to buy a settee for the hospital relatives room where her husband was treated. After lots of argy bargy they decided to make it a nude calendar and went on to fight against other members and officers of their own WI , their own families and even the National WI Association to be allowed to do it. This was covered in the first act and which also covered the demise of the husband. There was plenty of amusing repartee between the ladies as well as plenty of fantastic songs. Pathos, comedy and wittiness made this an entertaining and emotional show.
On to act two which included the making of the calendar. This was hilarious with the ladies humming and hawing about taking part, and being photographed by a man whilst in the nude. Then the uproarious stripping and posing for the photographs. All this accompanied by more fabulous songs.
Then a smashing finale during which it was revealed that they had not only raised enough to buy a settee but there was enough money to build a new wing at the Hospital which was going to be named after her husband.
This play is based on a true story and includes all one would wish for to make for a wonderful night at the theatre! What the ladies accomplished went viral and the calendar sold like hot cakes not only in the UK but in many countries all over the world! Spin offs included films a play and now the musical. Just goes to show that from small acorns great oak trees grow!
I am not going to single out an individual for particular praise but Tanya Franks, Maureen Nolan, Lyn Paul, Amy Robbins, Paula Tappenden, Marti Webb and Honeysuckle Weeks as the Ladies,together with Colin R Campbell and Graham Macduff as the Husband and the Photographer all gave wonderful performances well deserving the standing ovation they received.
In conclusion this was a fabulous, entertaining, sad but funny play with marvellous songs and music well worth a visit. I loved it and would recommend it to all.