Calendar Girls the Musical, WAOS - Ron Fosker

CALENDAR GIRLS

Ron Fosker 23.4.24 WAOS

Nudity among the cakes and sponges is not something normally to be found on a Witham stage. But Calendar Girls is no ordinary musical.

First a film 20 years ago, then a play – staged by Witham Dramatic Club in 2012 – and now a musical, the true story of a group of WI members raising money by posing naked – all in the best possible taste, of course – is by now a well-known one.

But adding a musical element has given it a new lease of life and Witham Amateur Operatic Society took full advantage of the extra dimension in an excellent production, directed with her usual flair by Nikki Mundell-Poole.

The cakes and sponges – or caakes and spoonges as the cast had it in their well-tuned Yorkshire accents – were essential to the plot as a procession of WI members sheltered behind a selection of props baring (nearly) all to raise money for a memorial to a member’s late husband.

Constance Lawton and Susy Hawkes-Dighton – a revelation in her first starring role – led a sparkling cast as the moving yet amusing story unfolded.

Both gave vent to their emotions with powerful voices, more rock/soul than operatic, and switched effortlessly from pathos to comedy.

Alice Ward, also stepping up to a principal role for the first time, was full of sparky energy as the cheeky Cora, while Carole Hart tugged at the heart-strings lamenting the stereotyping of a retired teacher.

Michelle Bacon and Rhoda Taylor also stepped out of the chorus line and proved worthy of the promotion.

Jason Norton, as the late husband in question, gave the show its beating heart while Liv Possee and William Hackett, joining dad and mum respectively on stage, offered youthful joie de vivre.

Add in the genuine sound of a northern brass band in musical director Karen Chinery’s orchestra pit and the scene is complete.