Nine months ago I had my first experience of the Royalty Theatre
in Sunderland, and I have been thinking for
a while now that it was time I had a return visit. Unfortunately circumstances
and work commitments have kept me away, until this week when a free evening and
Calendar Girls beckoned me back. I love the Hollywood
film and was equally entranced by the stage show, which I also experienced for
the first time nine months ago. It seemed an almost karmic opportunity had
presented itself to me, nine months since my first visit to the Royalty and
nine months since my first viewing of Calendar Girls. And so my sister was
recruited, and tickets were bought.
I do love this play, so there was a
certain amount of trepidation. I have very recently suffered the disappointment
of seeing another show for the second time and finding it a less enchanting
experience. Would Calendar Girls live up to my expectations? Or would it be
tainted with the disappointment of a cast that didn't fit my mental image of
the characters, or imperfectly delivered lines?
I need not have worried. It wasn't
perfect, occasionally the timing was a little off, and the sound not quite right,
but overall it was an enjoyable production. The scenes in Napely village hall
unfolded, revealing the fondly remembered characters, the friendly rivalries, and
the dry Yorkshire humour.
In terms of individual performances, Louisa Robinson played a
fabulously timid, conciliatory Ruth who fully deserved the cheer from the
audience as she sent her husband’s condescending “other woman” packing! Muriel
Waine, as Annie, coping with the loss of her husband and the strain on a
lifelong friendship, gave a sensitive and convincing performance.
Of course, the story would not be complete without the photography
scene and I particularly liked Dominic McDonagh as the self conscious young
photographer Lawrence. The whole scene was done with great humour and
sensitivity. Full marks to the cast and the production team for meeting this
challenge head on!
Calendar Girls plays until the 29th June. There are
still seats available. Tickets can be bought online and you will be supporting your
local theatre and a very worthy charity!
Much as I love Calendar Girls as a play and as a means of raising the profile of cancer research, its place in my heart has been superseded by another. Spoonface Steinberg left me absolutely speechless. I was invited to review it for Spikemike, and struggled to find the words to capture it. I found some eventually but I really feel they don't do it justice. Read the words, but if you are near a performance in July, book a ticket and go see this amazing play!
