Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 30th September 2023
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
5*****
Calendar Girls the Musical, written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth is a welcome throwback to the film that many will remember with a smile. Twenty years on from the film release, this musical version has the same effect.
Based on a true story, the production centres around a group of women who are all members of the Women’s Institute in a Yorkshire village. An eclectic group of women, all of them find friendship in their regular and traditional WI activities; inter-group craft competitions, cake baking and fundraising. Following the death of a member’s husband and fuelled by their mission to raise money for the local hospital, the group moves hilariously from eclectic to electric!
The key components of life, love, friendship and loss are really the main theme and not the nudity we all associate with ‘The Calendar Girls’. All elements are sensitively portrayed in this production, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and reinforced with a mix of uplifting and thoughtful song.
The production set is simple in design and switches swiftly between being a village hall, hospital relatives’ room and the WI national conference stage. However, the simplicity of it means that the focus is always on the depth of the relationships that are the commentary of the production and the musical elements that add further dimension.
Annie (played by Tanya Franks) and Chris (played by Amy Robbins) have been friends for 40 years and pull together against the harsh reality of Annie’s husband having cancer. The portrayal of their deep friendship keeps the audience vested in its value and ultimately drawn into the turmoil that is felt when you lose someone close, let alone the love of your life.
The tragic loss of Annie’s husband is the cue for a step change in the group’s attitude to tradition and reputational risk. Every member of the group is transformed by the ‘not insane’ idea of revamping the WI calendar, replacing images of churches and teapots with more risqué images.
At this point, the whole cast and lighting also take on a livelier disposition. Every one of the main characters poses individually on stage for a photo shoot, with carefully placed WI props and cheeky lines. The audience reaction is one of awe and applause; a perfect segway to the end of the show that reminds us of the amazing things that can be achieved when ‘ordinary people do something extraordinary’.