Review: Calendar Girls ***

When a group of gutsy Yorkshire women dared to bare for a charity calendar in 1999 it caused a world-wide sensation.

As a stage play Calendar Girls is a deliciously funny, heart-warming piece with an underlying theme that is both poignant and sad. At times though, it is a little disjointed but this is expertly overcome by some clever direction and the efforts of its talented cast. As Chris, the local florist and the rebellious member of the group, Linda Bellingham is outstanding, Jennifer Ellison’s portrayal of Celia, the young trophy wife with a mission to shock the snooty lady members of the golf club, shows she’s travelled a million miles since her days in TV’s Brookside, whilst Trudie Goodwin as Annie slips effortlessly from emotional scenes with her dying husband to the fun of tastefully done photo shoot.

With a cast including Lisa Riley as the timid and downtrodden wife Ruth, Gwen Taylor’s seemingly straight-laced school teacher, Bernie Nolan as the piano pounding Cora and Ruth Madoc’s overbearing Marie, Calendar Girls is bursting at the seams with great comedy and characteristions from every member of the cast.

To Mar 19.