The Asylum Players present Calendar Girls in The Blue Room

Marie (Nicole Gray) receives good news!

**Update to my original review.

Last night, I attended the Blue Room to see Calendar Girls as an audience member unencumbered by my camera. The theatre was nearly full, and the audience was clearly up for the occasion, many having dressed up for the play.

Almost from the start, the audience clapped and cheered to support the actors. This is not a criticism at all; it was really supportive, and the atmosphere created was electric. The change from the dress rehearsal was enormous , particularly in the calendar shoot scene itself. This is now highly slick, empowering, and funny, and audience members enjoyed the performance.

As you might expect, the play has poignant moments handled with real skill and sensitivity on stage. The audience was visibly moved, a testament to the emotional depth of the performance.

During the interval, it was clear how well the show was going, and it continued in this vein to the very end. As the bows were taken, well over half the audience rose and gave the cast and crew a standing ovation.

With only a few tickets left for next week's shows, I strongly recommend securing your seat if possible. This is a play you don't want to miss. **

The Asylum Players bring Calendar Girls by Tim Firth to the stage of The Blue Room this summer. The theatre stage has been adapted to reflect the interior of the women's institute. It works exceptionally well in The Blue Room, a perfect scale for this production. The lighting is well-designed to allow the characters to be the centre of the audience's attention. There are a minimum of lighting effects but coloured lights are well used during the talk by Brenda Hulse (Sarah Chatterton).

Brenda Hulse (Sarah Chatterton) talks carrots

The story needs little introduction, but being based on actual events, it involves a group of friends from the local Women's Institute. When Annie loses her husband, John, to cancer, she and her best friend, Chris, decide to raise money for a new settee for the local hospital. Together, they hatch a plan to make a nude calendar with the other ladies from the WI. What could go wrong?

Because it is a true story, this wonderful cast can convey the story in a believable, emotional, and amusing way. The six central women have made it their own in this production, and you can feel the camaraderie and teamwork in their interactions and delivery.

Directed by Stephen Gillard and produced by Laura Turner, they have allowed this to be a celebration of friendship and courage. The costumes are well chosen and suit the characters of the individuals, with really well-placed props preserving the women's dignity and providing some genuine laughter.

One of the calendar shots

The two central characters deserve special attention. If Annie (Sarah Williamson) does not bring tears to your eye, I would be amazed; she is brave, honest, funny, and really, really believable in her grief but remains strong throughout. Chris (Sally Rossseau) almost has a more difficult task as she plays a complex woman who has to display some less attractive aspects of her character for large portions of the piece. I can imagine it must be draining for her. Still, the relationship between the two is terrific, if painful, at times to observe.

Chris (Sally Rousseau) and Annie (Sarah Williamson).

The other WI women are Ruth (Rachel Pick), whose reluctance to participate produces some laugh-out-loud moments, and her reveal for the calendar is consequently hilarious. Celia (Philippa Casares) carries her character with real skill and confidence, making her one of the central characters in this show. Jessie (Barbara Lynch) delivers a compelling moment when she articulates how it is essential that age doesn't define you, and that, I think, allows the audience to reflect on their self and mortality. Finally, Cora (Lindsey Hardenberg) is fortunate to have some of the best comic lines and delivers them beautifully; she perhaps has the most developed backstory in this adaption and delivers it in a very believable and engaging way.

Supporting actors include John (Steve Taylor), who plays his central role sensitively and poignantly. Rod (Bob Chatterton) belies his physical presence on the stage by playing a sweet and sensitive part – 'have I ever told you how beautiful you are?'. Lawrence (Joe Brammer) is suitably bumbling and embarrassed but helps drive the plot. He plays a key role in the photo shoot with absolute believability; a hilarious moment is how he photographs his former teacher. Joe Brammer also plays Liam, who is a much less attractive character. Lady Cravenshire (Sarah Chatterton) provides some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, particularly in her secondary role of Brenda Hulse in the broccoli scene, which is one to watch out for and enjoy. After the dress rehearsal, I spoke to a couple of the audience members, and they were completely oblivious that the same actor played them. Marie (Nicole Gray) is imperious throughout. Watch out for the badminton scene and her epic fist pump towards the end; her ability to faint is also a highlight. Marie is central to the story, and describing her as one of the supporting cast seems a little unfair. Finally, Elaine (Emily Hodgson), the beautician, is wonderfully insane and over the top; it is a real shame she features in just one scene as you want to see more, but she does allow Ruth the opportunity to deliver a line that will be cheered by the audience.

This is a must-see production. The cast is brave, and their camaraderie and teamwork are shown throughout. They have bonded in this production. It is not easy to bare yourself emotionally and physically, but it is done with humour, pace, style, and honesty; this is mainly in focus during the calendar scene itself, which is pacey and offers some real moments of jeopardy for the actors which adds to the fun and comedy of this scene. The audience will also no doubt be impressed by the complexity of this scene, which must have been difficult to choreograph,

I would be very surprised to see dry eyes at the end; certainly, the audience at the dress rehearsal and the reviewer could not resist.

An unusual aspect of this production is that the cast made a charity calendar that features on stage and is available for purchase when the curtain goes down. Twenty per cent of the proceeds from ticket sales and the calendar will be donated to St Barnabas Hospice.

Backroom staff who have contributed to this show's success include, Laura Martin (Stage Manager and props), Megan Shield (Production Assistant), Kev Gillingham (Technical Operator), Graham Scott (set), and Amy Margone (Assistant Director).

Cast and Crew

This run has eight shows between July 18th and 20th, 2024, and July 25th and 27th. Some shows are already sold out, so you need to be quick!

https://www.lawnlincoln.com/the-blue-room-events

For bookings.