It has been 25 years since a Women’s Institute (WI) calendar took the world by storm. The Calendar Girls almost need no introduction, so famous is their story and the global phenomenon they became.
The tale of this group of women who swapped their bras for buns to raise funds for blood cancer research has gone down in the history books as one of the greats.
And The Mill at Sonning’s recent production of ‘Calendar Girls’ certainly does justice to these incredible events.
The WI is perhaps the most quintessentially British thing one could imagine. And my experience at The Mill at Sonning was in no shortage of English charm. From the dappled light of the setting sun twinkling on the chandeliers above our delicious pre-show meal, to the sound of the River Thames lapping outside the beautiful Grade II listed building, it all just felt incredibly British. And that was before I’d even set foot inside the theatre itself.
The stage of The Mill is a gorgeously intimate one, with just six rows of audiences surrounding the crescent moon performance space. The set is simple, opening with a vista of England’s rolling green and pleasant land, which soon opens to reveal Knapely Village Hall, flanked by two doors for stage entrances, and with walls and floors lined with calendar pages.
The lights go up on a Tai Chi class, and we are instantly transported to the land of the WI, with dialogue full of sparkling one-liners, sharp delivery and fantastic comic timing.
I think what I loved most about the production was how well it captured the essence of that uniquely special thing that is female friendship.
This is immediately apparent in the sense of playful affection and camaraderie within the group, and is the lovely thing about an ensemble show like Calendar Girls.
Each character has depth and their own subplots – the couple with financial worries, a possibly adulterous husband, a single mum trying not to embarrass her teenage daughter – but it’s the strength and vulnerability of the group as a whole where the true beauty lies.
That is not to say there weren’t standout performances. I absolutely loved the dynamics between Chris (Rachel Fielding) and Annie (Natalie Ogle), the relationship at the heart of the story, which brilliantly depicted the beautiful messy nuances of female friendship.
Ex-school teacher Jessie (Sarah Whitlock) has some of the best lines (and biggest laughs) in the show, which are delivered with immaculate timing. (Such as my personal favourite: “I’m in. But no front bottoms”. And the blossoming strength of Ruth (Ciara Janson), bittersweet glamour of Celia (Basienka Blake), and madcap lovability of Cora (Debbie Arnold) all perfectly add to a cast that oozes love and care for this most beloved of stories.
For a play with such an iconic physical requirement of its actresses, I was intrigued to see how the production would handle *that* moment in the story. But the photoshoot scene was superbly and delightfully delivered, completely joyful, empowering and uplifting. I won’t spoil it for anyone going to watch it, but let’s just say the loud round of applause each month received was very well deserved.
Real belly-laugh moments are peppered with poignancy, because lest we forget the reason why these women chose to do what they did. A scene featuring letters from families affected by cancer still brings a lump to my throat now, and the final image on stage is bittersweet but beautiful.
Tim Firth’s twinkling script, expertly directed by Sally Hughes, (managing and artistic director of The Mill) captured all the best of the WI’s tropes. A talk on broccoli, a racy Santa dress in the Christmas Victoriana parade and the scandal of an M&S cake being entered into a baking competition are all just part of the ingredients that make this play such a treat to enjoy.
There’s even a little mention for Sonning’s most famous resident, at the suggestion that perhaps George Clooney might like to partake in next year’s calendar, the cherry on top of a production that shines with warmth, humour and – above all – extremely tasteful nudity.
Calendar Girls at The Mill at Sonning is very much recommended, and runs until Saturday, June 1. All tickets include a two-course meal, and can be purchased from www.millatsonning.com
SOPHIE PIERCE
