What a great date
IN the (rephrased) words of William Blake: "I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, till we have driven the scourge of leukemia from England's green and pleasant land"
Thus inspired, the ladies of the Knapely WI resolve that Annie's tragic husband John will be respectfully remembered after his untimely death. Their story becomes the stuff of legend: a nude calendar that will raise funds to combat this dreadful disease, and buy a commemorative sofa for a local hospital.
Displaying equally brave determination, Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society engage spiritedly with Tim Firth's touching stage adaptation of the 2003 feature film. From the outset, there is comedy, warmth and pathos in abundance. Amidst all the joy, however, lies a mordant sadness, and between the gales of laughter, the poignant silences of shared grief grasp at the very soul.
Yet imbuing it all is an abiding sense of hope, and in a gold-plated case of "We shall overcome", girl power rules okay. Spearheaded by brash Celia and feisty Chris, their great humanitarian crusade steadily gathers momentum. Inhibitions evaporate, the moment of truth arrives, and the calendar shoot itself is simply electrifying; each of the courageous ladies is wildly and justly applauded as they strike their daring poses, and the crowning Christmas tableau is unforgettable. Singling out individual performances in a cast whose every character is strong and real seems unfair; ultimately triumphant here are CODS themselves, upon whom the countenance divine has indeed shone forth. Make a date, wear a sunflower and prepare to shed a tear or two.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Calendar Girls runs until Saturday 29th September. Tickets are available at The Playhouse Tel: 522852
Simon Lewis
Comments
by little_charlotte
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:54AM
“I saw Calendar Girls last night and it is one of the best things I have seen at the Playhouse. We were howling with laughter one minute and then choking back tears the next. It is an immensely human play, and you root for each of the characters. The staging was well done (though I would suggest soft-soled shoes for the backstage crew!) and the acting superb. This is a real gem of a show and deserves to be a sellout every evening. Many congratulations to all concerned: you should be proud of yourselves.”