Calendar Girls

This is an ideal time of the year for this play, as we are being inundated with thousands of calendars from which to choose.

In a Yorkshire village, when the husband of one of the women of the Roylestone Women’s Institute died, the members decided to raise money for a settee for the waiting room of the hospital where he was treated. As all previous fundraising efforts had given poor returns, these ladies decided to sell a nude calendar of themselves. The play covers their decision making, the opposition of the older leader of the Institute, the photography and the excitement of the success of the venture – even to the sunflowers growing on the hillside. Based on a true story, the group has raised over three million pounds since 1999.

Brenda White has directed a fluent, hilarious production that maintained a clarity and interaction to make this a very enjoyable evening at the theatre.  After a nervous start, the pace and clarity was spot on. Marion Jones, Carrie O’Rourke (playing the driving force behind the idea), Joanne Oliver, Caroline Mayfair and Fran Smith were convincing as the ladies being photographed. They were a team displaying the changing moods, the doubts and the happiness of success. Brenda Keith-Walker gave one of her best performances as the doubting, reserved  leader of the Institute. Bianca Reynolds brought the house down as the make-up artist. The smaller men’s roles were handled quite well by Chris Carroll, Gary Kliger, Mervyn Marriott and Tim Oxley. Debbie McKay played Lady Cravenshire.

Congratulations to Nash for giving the audience such a happy, enjoyable night at the theatre. Go and have a laugh. My one regret – I could not buy the calendar.

William Davies