Calendar Girls
Review by Richie Simpson, Presenter of Theatreland on RWS FM 103.3.
Sometimes, amateur theatre produces the perfect blend of community spirit, professionalism and a brilliant production. Centre Stage Company's Calendar Girls has achieved that, and is up there with the best amateur theatre that I have seen.
The sheer effort and love that has gone into this performance starts offstage. Indeed, Centre Stage is a true community company, and it is clear that it means a lot to the people of Haverhill.
As always, Claire Harvey (Producer of Calendar Girls and Chair of Centre Stage) and her team went above and beyond to put together a show of the highest quality. Upon arrival at the theatre, it was obvious that they had put real attention to detail and thought into their production values. There were charity calendars for sale along with other products. There were pictures of every member of the cast on the wall. Every team member, from Front of House to the band to the crew, was wearing a sunflower. The programme is excellent.
Director David Hart and Musical Director Karen Chinery have clearly upheld the same level of professionalism and attention to detail in the creative decisions. Upon arrival in the auditorium there was brass band music playing. This, coupled with the décor of the brilliant Haverhill Arts Centre, set the tone for the show and transported me to Yorkshire. The flower cart that was stage right, and the screen promoting the charities that Centre Stage is supporting (Cancer Research UK and St Nicholas' Hospice Care) stage left, were clever touches that only helped to immerse the audience in the feel of the show.
The set was excellently minimalist, with only a few set pieces and a backdrop used cleverly for projections - images that not only showed various scene locations, but also flicked through pictures of the Yorkshire countryside, set up as a calendar.
Set changes were slick, and the well drilled crew deserve credit as a vital part of the production.
The technical elements were also wonderful, with interesting lighting and particularly impressive sound design, which I really was blown away by. The band sounded crisp and the richness of the vocals really came across.
The band itself, led by Karen Chinery, was top quality and, for me, could have easily filled a West End pit. Meanwhile, the vocals were on point throughout, with some strong harmonies and ensemble pieces to raise the roof.
To say this musical has heart is understatement - this exceptional cast made me laugh, made me cry and ticked all the boxes of what I love about theatre. The show transported me and really made me feel something.
The chemistry between Vickie Carey's Annie and Deborah Este's Chris was perfect. Meanwhile, Carey's voice is so strong that you felt every ounce of Annie's pain. Este is a brilliant comic actor. These two were supported by four wonderfully strong women. Zoe Hunt's Cora was hilarious, Sam Baker's Jessie was superbly defiant, particularly in her rendition of "What Age Expects", Em Robshaw-Hull's Celia brought the house down with "So I've Had a Little Work Done", and Kate Davy's Ruth was expertly acted, bringing all the depth of this character to life. This group of lead women really brought the heart to this beautiful show.
And the supporting cast was equally excellent. Gareth Barton filled the role of John so much that when his character passed, the audience felt like it was losing a friend. Meanwhile, Hector Duckworth-Smith, Emily Bonfield and Charlie Jones brought youthful talent and humour to the show. Wonderful! They were all superbly strong and showed the importance of a good ensemble in elevating a show.
In Calendar Girls, Centre Stage found the perfect balance between their community spirit and their penchant for professionalism. They are a group to watch. You will note that this review is overwhelming positive. That is because, for me, this production was flawless.
Calendar Girls is at Haverhill Arts Centre until May 24.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE