REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL CALENDAR GIRLS
BY GARY BARLOW AND TIM FIRTH
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
23-27 April 2019
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
THE AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL CALENDAR GIRLS
BY GARY BARLOW AND TIM FIRTH
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
23-27 April 2019
The brand new cast of Calendar Girls - the Musical made their debut at the Cliffs Pavilion on Tuesday night and didn't put a foot wrong, despite the unforgiving rake of the Southend theatre stage.
The musical has evolved over the years from the film version, to an award winning play which were both penned by Tim Firth and both incredibly successful. However, for the last five years, Firth and his childhood friend, Gary Barlow, have been collaborating on the musical version of the inspirational story of the 12 members of the Rylstone District Women's Institute in Yorkshire who famously made the provocative and titillating (excuse the pun) calendar which would become a worldwide sensation.
The WI's aim was to just raise enough money to buy a settee for the visitors room at their local hospital in memory of a friend but turned out to be an outstanding feat of fundraising, raising a ton of money for what is now known as Bloodwise formerly known as the Leukaemia Research Fund.
It somehow seems strange that this musical should bring so much laughter to an audience, knowing its obviously sad subject matter but essentially this is what we Brits tend to do in the face of adversity. Barlow and Firth's joint forces have created music and lyrics that really
tap into the human psyche, and women and men alike will definitely be able to relate to the clever lyrics that bring out each character portrayed and this, I am certain, is what gives the musical version of Calendar Girls its edge. Despite the melodrama that a musical can often bring to stage, so much more can be said through song - thoughts, memories, hopes and dreams - and this is what packs a punch every time here.
There are some cracking numbers in this show and although you may not go home humming them, the opening number's melody, which runs throughout the show, Yorkshire, is the one that will probably stick.
Sarah Jane Buckley and Rebecca Storm are outstanding in the pivotal roles of Annie and her best friend Chris whose craziest idea yet is actually her best one and their vocal delivery is tiptop. There are lots of laughs from the deadpan Lesley Joseph playing the role of retired school teacher, Jessie, who gets to sing the empowering, What Age Expects to the delight of the audience and Lisa Maxwell utilises all her comedic skills in the role of Celia, the golf widow who eventually confesses that I've Had A Little Work Done. I adored Julia Hills as Ruth - My Russian Friend and I is just brilliant and Sue Devaney is fabulous as Cora the vicar's unconventional daughter.
There is one song which the husbands (played by Alan Stocks, Ian Mercer and, Southend actor, Sebastian Abineri), get to sing, Protect Me Less, which is hilariously insightful.
However, it is the younger cast members that almost steal the show, with some wonderful performances from Tyler Dobbs as Tommo, Isabel Caswell as Jenny and a hugely endearing performance from Danny Howker as Danny, the awkward teen desperate to impress yet having to deal with an embarrassing mother at the same time!
The set has been scaled down from how it was for the West End production but this has made scene changes quicker and Oliver Fenwick has done a superb job with lighting. The scene where the girls finally get their kit off is a delight and they all looked like they were genuinely having a blast, not least Rebecca Storm - go see it and you'll know what I mean!
Calendar Girls - the Musical may not have you leaving the theatre wanting to instantly download the soundtrack but it will leave you with a feeling of warmth and with a big ol' smile on your face. It is a story of community spirit, friendship and hope and has been written with a realism and insightfulness that gives this musical a true heart.
Review: Kim Tobin
The musical has evolved over the years from the film version, to an award winning play which were both penned by Tim Firth and both incredibly successful. However, for the last five years, Firth and his childhood friend, Gary Barlow, have been collaborating on the musical version of the inspirational story of the 12 members of the Rylstone District Women's Institute in Yorkshire who famously made the provocative and titillating (excuse the pun) calendar which would become a worldwide sensation.
The WI's aim was to just raise enough money to buy a settee for the visitors room at their local hospital in memory of a friend but turned out to be an outstanding feat of fundraising, raising a ton of money for what is now known as Bloodwise formerly known as the Leukaemia Research Fund.
It somehow seems strange that this musical should bring so much laughter to an audience, knowing its obviously sad subject matter but essentially this is what we Brits tend to do in the face of adversity. Barlow and Firth's joint forces have created music and lyrics that really
tap into the human psyche, and women and men alike will definitely be able to relate to the clever lyrics that bring out each character portrayed and this, I am certain, is what gives the musical version of Calendar Girls its edge. Despite the melodrama that a musical can often bring to stage, so much more can be said through song - thoughts, memories, hopes and dreams - and this is what packs a punch every time here.
There are some cracking numbers in this show and although you may not go home humming them, the opening number's melody, which runs throughout the show, Yorkshire, is the one that will probably stick.
Sarah Jane Buckley and Rebecca Storm are outstanding in the pivotal roles of Annie and her best friend Chris whose craziest idea yet is actually her best one and their vocal delivery is tiptop. There are lots of laughs from the deadpan Lesley Joseph playing the role of retired school teacher, Jessie, who gets to sing the empowering, What Age Expects to the delight of the audience and Lisa Maxwell utilises all her comedic skills in the role of Celia, the golf widow who eventually confesses that I've Had A Little Work Done. I adored Julia Hills as Ruth - My Russian Friend and I is just brilliant and Sue Devaney is fabulous as Cora the vicar's unconventional daughter.
There is one song which the husbands (played by Alan Stocks, Ian Mercer and, Southend actor, Sebastian Abineri), get to sing, Protect Me Less, which is hilariously insightful.
However, it is the younger cast members that almost steal the show, with some wonderful performances from Tyler Dobbs as Tommo, Isabel Caswell as Jenny and a hugely endearing performance from Danny Howker as Danny, the awkward teen desperate to impress yet having to deal with an embarrassing mother at the same time!
The set has been scaled down from how it was for the West End production but this has made scene changes quicker and Oliver Fenwick has done a superb job with lighting. The scene where the girls finally get their kit off is a delight and they all looked like they were genuinely having a blast, not least Rebecca Storm - go see it and you'll know what I mean!
Calendar Girls - the Musical may not have you leaving the theatre wanting to instantly download the soundtrack but it will leave you with a feeling of warmth and with a big ol' smile on your face. It is a story of community spirit, friendship and hope and has been written with a realism and insightfulness that gives this musical a true heart.
Review: Kim Tobin
Website: www.calendargirlsthemusical.com
Facebook: @thegirlsmusical
Twitter: @thegirlsmusical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 01702 351135 www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
Facebook: @thegirlsmusical
Twitter: @thegirlsmusical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 01702 351135 www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
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2019 TOUR SCHEDULE
23 – 27 April Cliffs Pavilion, Southend* 01702 351135 www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk 30 April – 11 May Wales Millennium Centre* 02920 636464 www.wmc.org.uk 14 – 25 May Grand Opera House, Belfast* 02890 241919 www.goh.co.uk 28 May – 8 June Birmingham Hippodrome* 0844 338 5000 www.birminghamhippodrome.com 11 – 22 June Glasgow King’s Theatre* 0844 871 7648 www.atgtickets.com/kings-theatre 25 June – 6 July Theatre Royal, Nottingham* 0115 989 5555 www.trch.co.uk 9 July – 20 July Bristol Hippodrome* 0844 871 3012 www.atgtickets.com/bristol 23 July – 3 August Theatre Royal Plymouth* 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com 6 – 10 August Congress Theatre, Eastbourne* 01323 412000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk |
17 – 21 September Bournemouth Pavilion 0844 576 3000
www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk 24 – 28 September Wolverhampton Grand 01902 42 92 12 www.grandtheatre.co.uk 1 – 5 October New Wimbledon Theatre 0844 871 7646 www.atgtickets.com/new-wimbledon-theatre 8 – 12 October Royal & Derngate Northampton 01604 624811 www.royalandderngate.co.uk 15 – 19 October Blackpool Opera House 0844 856 1111 www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk 22 – 26 October Ipswich Regent Theatre 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com 29 October – 2 November Chester Storyhouse 01244 409113 www.storyhouse.com 5 – 9 November Theatre Royal Bath 01225 448844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk 12 – 23 November Chichester Festival Theatre 01243 781312 www.cft.org.uk *Lesley Joseph dates |