![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/314949566_5634706316606988_4248313045700647421_n.jpg)
Show: Calendar Girls: The Musical
Society: WWOS (West Wickham Operatic Society)
Venue: Churchill Theatre Bromley. High Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1HA
Credits: Gary Barlow and Tim Firth
Type: Sardines
Author: Caroline Jenner
Performance Date: 16/11/2022
Calendar Girls: The Musical
Caroline Jenner | 17 Nov 2022 15:49pm
The Churchill Theatre is not the easiest place to perform and I often wonder why amateur companies choose to play there. A barn of a building, it is possible to get lost on its enormous stage. All credit to West Wickham Operatic Society that they manage to fill the stage space, even if perhaps the audience numbers could be a little bigger. Nonetheless this is a heartwarming piece of theatre that presents the now familiar, bittersweet story of a Yorkshire WI’s fundraising calendar with joyous sincerity.
Calendar Girls is the true story of the Rylstone WI, who produced a nude calendar following the death in 1998 of John Richard Baker, the husband of one of its members, who lost a battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Originally a film it went on to become a play and finally a musical and has raised thousands for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research. In the queue for the loo in the interval I overheard one woman asking if her friend was enjoying the performance. ‘Hard to say’, was the reply, ‘I’ve lived this story’. Like the stranger in the queue and many others in the theatre I am sure, I too have lived this story, having lost my own sister to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2017. The story could so easily have turned into that familiar stereotype of women juggling marriages, careers, children alongside the loss of a loved member of the community, but the strength of this production comes with the wonderful lyrics by Tim Firth which dovetail so well with Gary Barlow’s music to tip between comedy and gut-wrenching despair on a rollercoaster that takes the audience from hilarity to heartbreaking sadness and back again. This is a play that empowers women and shows how very ordinary lives can be changed by circumstances to create something extraordinary.
From the outset we are captivated by this very lovable cast whose quirky zest for life allow the audience to feel warmly affectionate towards the Yorkshire community of the fictional town of Knapely. The first two numbers work exceptionally well to draw in the audience, setting the scene in Yorkshire and then introducing us to the key characters. Although the idea of each character having their own set song is a little derivative, this works well for amateur companies, allowing more members of the company to showcase their skills, and West Wickham are fortunate to have such a wealth of strong performers.
Tracy Prizeman as Annie moves effortlessly from grief at the loss of her husband, beautifully captured in a lovely rendition of the song Kilimanjaro, to a commemoration of his life in the practical shape of a new sofa for the relatives’ room at the local hospital. Whilst Jacqui Morris as Chris entertains with her great comic timing delivering some very droll punchlines. The chemistry between both actresses and their onstage husbands is evident, particularly in the scene where we are reminded of the dangers of going out with Christine Butler, never a ‘smooth path’ more like ‘crazy paving’.
Jane Werry as Cora, Josie Simpson as Ruth, Amanda Farrant as Celia, Pat Adams as Jessie and the wonderful Miss Simpsons, played by Elizabeth Hodgson and Pauline Wathen embrace the roles and provide just the right balance of timidity, joy and loneliness, alongside a growing confidence in themselves, which makes the show a joy to watch. The wonderful scene where they finally disrobe for the calendar shoot brings justly deserved rounds of applause for each performer.
Mention must also go to the strait-laced Marie, Louise Gauntlett, and the love sick Danny, Chris Hopkins. However, the stand out performance of, Kate Gauntlett as school refusing Jenny, who turns into a stalwart supporter of the WI is particularly noteworthy.
A bold set depicts the Yorkshire Dales and transforms neatly into the WI meeting hall and although sometimes the pushing on of the barrow of flowers and sofa to depict other locations slows the pace a little they serve their purpose. Costumes also work well, despite the one anomaly of a green dress amidst the black in the curtain call which was slightly distracting, as was the ticking sound that seemed to come from the back of the auditorium during some of the numbers. However, these minor niggles aside the show is a triumph.
The directors, Kevin Gauntlett, Danielle Dowsett and Colin Warnock, get the best from this strong ensemble of performers and the audience leave the theatre being reminded of the importance of community and friendship. Don’t forget to take all your loose change to tip into the collecting buckets on the way out as this show is also a reminder that we are still a long way from finding a cure for Cancer and every penny donated helps.
Reheasal images: