Moving musical bares everything
DENISE Welch, Ruth Madoc, Sara Crowe, Fern Britton – with such familiar names lining up for this musical version of a well-loved story, my hopes of a good evening’s entertainment were high. And I was not disappointed.
The show opens with a rousing tribute to Yorkshire penned – like all the songs – by Take That’s Gary Barlow, and set against a beautifully rendered backdrop of the Dales.
Here we get our first introductions to the cast – including Ruth as retired teacher Jessie, Denise as brassy Celia, Sara as dippy Ruth, and Fern as bossy Marie. We also meet single mum Cora, played by Karen Dunbar.
This is a real ensemble piece and each character also gets their chance to shine but it is old friends Annie and Chris who are the story’s heart. Veteran of musicals Rebecca Storm plays Chris – Helen Mirren’s role in the hit movie – and her voice lifts the show.
Anna-Jane Casey as widowed Annie – Julie Walter’s role in the film – has a great voice too and some of the most moving scenes. Because, yes, you will need a tissue up your sleeve.
If you are not familiar with the story, it tells how Knapley Women’s Institute became famous when they decided to publish a charity calendar following the death of Annie’s husband – by posing naked with strategically placed jams, bakes and teapots.
The calendar shoot is cleverly choreographed to preserve the modesty of most, and celebrate the liberating experience it proved to be.
While there are men in the show, notably Phil Corbitt as John and Ian Mercer as Rod, it belongs to the women. Tim Firth, who scripted the film, has adapted this true story for the stage and has kept its life-affirming, often funny, twists and turns right alongside the sadder moments.
In keeping with this, there are many sentimental songs about life, love, and sunflowers but also some jaunty numbers which raise a smile and even a cheer. When the cast sing together, they sound fabulous, and there was a curtain call for musical director Toby Higgins who leads the small band.
I also loved the teenage sons and daughters and how their relationships with their parents was scrutinised with great humour. The husbands get a similar wry and affectionate treatment and there was much laughter and murmurs of recognition among the very appreciative audience in what was a packed theatre.
Calendar Girls is at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal until Saturday, September 29 – see www.theatreroyal.co.uk for tickets – and then can be seen at Sunderland Empire from March 19 to 23, 2019, with tickets due to go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, January 24.