* The Operatic's Calendar Girls, all in the best possible taste. Picture by Gem Photography.
Llanblogger first night review
There certainly is some naked talent on display
in Llangollen Operatic's production of Calendar Girls which opened at the town
hall last night.
And it was on show from top to bottom of this musical
version of the story in which members of a Yorkshire Women's Institute
shamelessly shed the movement's traditional jam and Jerusalem image - along
with their clothes.
Their aim is to create a nude calendar to raise
funds for a new couch for the relatives’ room attached to the hospital where
the husband of one of their members undergoes treatment for his blood cancer.
Unfortunately, John Clarke, played thoughtfully
by Simon Orton-Jones, loses his battle with the disease but his death only
spurs on the money-spinning efforts of wife Annie - a marvelous portrayal by
Simon's real-life missus Tessa Orton-Jones - and her WI mates.
Of the many Llan Operatic productions I have seen
this was the one which most engaged the audience right from the start and
throughout.
In fact, such was their cheering enthusiasm for
the action on stage that I expected a standing ovation to break out well before
the one the cast actually and most deservedly received at the end.
The show, by Tim Firth and THE Gary Barlow, takes
you from comedic highs to tragic lows, all is coveyed in wonderful style by a
cast of around 20, including a few who have previously shone in productions by the
society’s junior section, the Young ‘Uns.
It takes some doing not only to learn all your lines
and songs without the need to remove all your clothes for the big photography
scene at the end but the six ladies who are called upon to take that daunting
extra step do it in fine style – and all in the very best of taste thanks to
the skilful deployment of props like the famous Chelsea buns, screens and some extremely
artful posing.
Most of them achieved it only after lots of
searching rehearsals but one of them enjoyed no such benefit. The fabulous
Louise Lyne – a newcomer to the Operatic – stepped in with just a couple of days
notice to take over the pivotal role of Chris, the woman who actually comes up
with the idea for the saucy calendar, when the lady who was due to play it,
Russ Latham, fell ill.
Such is the importance of this part that in the famous 2003 film version it's played by Dame Helen Mirren.
The action and songs, some of them with true emotion-wringing
power, are arranged to give each of the key players a crack at telling their
stories. And a couple of them do this so well, such as Sue O’Neill as the
daunting ex-teacher Jessie, that I thought that early standing ovation was on
its way.
The sheer power of the performances across the
entire cast, and from the small group of musicians which backs them every step
of the way, is simply incredible and a tribute to the deft guidance of artistic
director Nia Pickering, musical director Elen Mair Roberts and producer/stage
manager Tracey Kempster Jones.
Forget the fluffed lines and wobbly scenery
sometimes associated with am-dram. This is professional grade theatre, ready
and stripped for action.
At each performance of Calendar Girls The Musical this week, there will be an opportunity to donate to The Shooting Star Cancer Support charity.
This amazing charity raises money to support the clinicians and the patients being treated in the Shooting Star Unit in Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
*Calendar Girls is running at the Town Hall this
Saturday. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety
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