Calendar Girls - well worth a date at the Alhambra! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Calendar Girls - well worth a date at the Alhambra!

9:14pm Monday 17th October 2011 in Reviews By Emma Clayton

Peeling off cashmere cardigans and sensible bras, and posing nervously among cake stands, teapots and balls of knitting, the WI ladies bared all for a cheeky calendar they didn’t expect to be seen beyond their Dales community. It went on to sell-out worldwide, raising £3 million for Leukaemia Research, catapulting the Rylstone and District Women’s Institute to fame and revolutionising charity fundraising. This bittersweet drama, inspired by the real-life 1999 nude calendar, is the UK’s most successful touring play and has been a hit both sides of the Atlantic. Following runs in the West End and on Broadway, the show was back on home ground last night, delighting a packed audience that included writer Tim Firth and one of the original Calendar Girls, Chris Clancey. Both sniffles and snorts of laughter rippled through the auditorium, as a terrific ensemble cast delivered Tim’s beautifully written, and now very familiar, script that had us chuckling just as we were starting to get collective lumps in our throats. The calendar photo-shoot scene was hilarious, as the women tentatively stripped off, passing a vodka bottle around as they arranged strategically-placed props. At the heart of the play is the friendships binding six women who each have their own reasons for joining the WI. Lynda Bellingham was exquisite as well-meaning Chris, and Jan Harvey gave a moving performance as grieving Annie. I loved Rula Lenska’s sassy Celia, determined to ruffle feathers at the golf club. I also adored June Watson’s Jessie, the schoolteacher with a glint in her eye, and Debbie Chazen’s shy Ruth, whose big moment – involving a gingham tablecloth and a bowl of oranges – brought the house down. Since the Calendar Girls phenomenon celebrates ladies of a certain age, I couldn’t see where pert young actress Jennifer Ellison would fit in, but her delightful portrayal of feisty Cora as a frustrated single mum turned out to be a sweet touch, reflecting the WI’s younger element. Ruth Madoc was great as the snobbish branch president and Bruno Langley captured hearts as the awkward photographer. Present throughout was the spirit of John – a memorable performance from Joe McGann – whose sunflower seeds inspired a calendar that touched the world. A funny, poignant and hugely entertaining show, packed full of Jam, Jerusalem, and Yorkshire wit. Runs until Saturday.