A wonderful showcase for some of Australia’s great female talent, this is a very funny yet at other times very moving show.
Both the 2003 film (starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters) and this play by Tim Firth tell the true story if a group of Yorkshire women who posed naked (or should that be ‘nude’?) for their annual Women’s Institute calendar to raise funds for the leukaemia wing of their local hospital. They have since raised over £1.3 million for leukaemia research.
Some of the issues raised in the play include aging, feminism, love, loss and friendship, the artistic difference between ‘naked’ and ‘nude’ and also that of selling oneself short for commercialization, albeit for an extremely good cause – how far do you go?
Characterization throughout is terrific. There are some very witty one liners, lots of laughs and some excellent, at times rather startling monologues. As retired school teacher Jessie (Lorraine Bayly) says “the worst thing about age is what you think age expects of you”. Rhonda Burchmore as Celia is tall, leggy and stunning (her Christmas outfit as Santa’s helper is a knockout for starters). For the Easter section, Jean Kitson as Ruth in fancy dress as a rabbit is hilarious. Amanda Muggleton and Anna Lee as friends boisterous, rather raucous Chris and sweet, charming Annie are terrific. We see their major quarrel in Act 2, yet their friendship is reforged by the end of the show. The death of Annie’s husband John is what inspires the calendar. David Downer as John is fabulous and he has some wonderfully poignant moments.
As generally rather quiet Ruth Jean Kitson has an astonishing turn around in Act 2 when she confronts the makeup girl Elaine who has been having an affair with her husband.
The actual photo shoot at the end of Act 1 is hilarious and very well done, dressing gowns discarded among the tea cakes, iced buns, flowers and vegetables. While claiming to be outrageous the women manage to be cautious and coy. Laughing Rhonda Burchmore as Celia delectably juggles her appendages behind the iced buns with cherry nipples. Rachel Berger as Cora at the piano discreetly gives us an upper torso rear view while Jean Kitson’s reluctant Ruth lies stunningly like an Ingres odalisque among a tub of oranges.
There are some cameo appearances by Annie Byron as delightfully snobbish Lady Carvenshire and Andrew Cutcliffe is excellent as Lawrence the photographer in Act 1 and rather camp Liam in Act 2.
There are some other great theatrical moments – for instance the fluttering of the masses of letters of support. Also the use of the theme of the sunflowers, and the huge sunflower field at the end.
In Act 2 we see the tiffs between the friends at the Women’s Institute and wonder how they cope with their sudden, unexpected fame. Or do they?
Robert Jones terrific set design and Malcolm Rippeth’s lighting evoke the Yorkshire dales and the county hall where the WI meet.
A charming, warm and inspirational show.
CALENDAR GIRLS
THEATRE ROYAL, SYDNEY
Limited season from 29 April 2010
Running tine 2 hrs 30 mins including interval
