Reviewed by Lindsay Burton
Written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, Calendar Girls The Musical features a host of household names including Sarah Jane Buckley and Sue Devaney. It is a jolly, empowering and grounded look at relationships, anguish and love and is irrefutably and boldly British, from the backdrop of Yorkshire to the values of the WI, the show impeccably captures the nation’s tongue-in-cheek wittiness and community.
With the events and drama all coming from familiar and relatable matters the characters face: cancer, grief, marriage and unruly children (a nod to the 2003 drama which the musical is based on with the realism being the show’s strength), makes the show all the more enthralling.
With such a character-driven plot, it was clear great acting would be required to make it a success and that is exactly what got delivered to the audience! The chosen cast are extraordinary, with flawless comedic mastery and characters who are both credible and charming.
The laughs are endless and the cast – particularly Rebecca Storm as Chris and Sue Devaney as Cora – keep the tone continuously fresh; with just a single glance at the audience or pause before delivering a joke, their comedic expertise invigorates both the script and the theatre’s atmosphere.
Isabel Caswell as Jenny and Danny Howker as Danny are brilliant in their portrayal of youthful entanglement and teasing. Their presence adds another thought-provoking element to the storyline, as they perfectly capture the awkwardness and gawkiness that comes with being a teenager.
And then there was the photo shoot!!! What a brilliant part of the show and tastefully executed, I was screaming with laughter… the well-placed props, shameless nudity and the unbelievable facial expressions of the cast was most definitely my favourite part of the show. This scene is totally side-splitting and simultaneously empowering, with the characters embracing their bodies and ignoring their fears of social backlash and self-awareness. Ladies, I salute you!!! I was very interested to see how well this could be done on stage, but it was meticulous executed and will undeniably leave a lasting impression.
I absolutely adored all the heartfelt, catchy songs. The lyrics are touching, funny and moving – particularly in Scarborough and Kilimanjaro, which are beautifully performed by Sarah Jane Buckley and truly effective to create the mood throughout the show and the cast magically brings the music to life with their personalities and talent, harmonising beautifully with the crowd singing. I loved all the humour and real personality which is only improved by the memorable songs. I left with a thankful full heart for all the people in my own life, an uplifting and memorable evening. I would watch this show again in a heartbeat, don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this experience, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £25 (booking fees may apply).
Calendar Girls The Musical is at the Birmingham Hippodrome from 28 May to 8 June 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call the box office on 0844 338 5000.
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB | 0844 338 5000
