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Calendar Girls

Lowestoft Players, at The Bethel

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 25 September and Lowestoft Journal 4 October 2013

 

The well-known story from the film about the real Yorkshire Women’s Institute branch who made a calendar to raise funds for the cancer unit of Skipton hospital, is wonderfully, poignantly told by the Lowestoft Players.

Exploiting the intimacy of their own theatre, director Stephen Wilson skilfully puts his lively and very funny women through the well-written script and brings the village community atmosphere truly alive.

When the gentle John (Andrew Liddon) dies and the tiny WI branch embraces the risks of posing discretely and tastefully nude for their calendar, we see friendships exposed, often with hurtful truths as well as jovial banter.

Judi Mars, Jill Emmerson, Lorna Tucker, Jean Kinkaid, Julia Rymer and Toni Penson are the magnificent, glorious bunch and their posing for the photos is utterly hilarious. Suzie Kingston as the branch chairperson masks a vulnerability behind her efficient exterior.

The smaller characters played by Gerald Wilson, Emily Simpson, Anne Chambers, Craig Loxston and Daniel Hughes contribute to the heart-warming, life-affirming night out that excites laughter and a lump in the throat. Not to be missed!

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