Review
Calendar Girls
Liverpool Empire

You will cry, smile, yawn just a little bit, but most of all it will make you howl with laughter and cheer at the top of your voice.
Calendar Girls at the Liverpool Empire is showing this week only and it’s inspirational story is told beautifully by the all star cast.
I must admit a small part of me wanted to go to see if Liverpool lass Jenifer Ellison had got herself back in shape after the pictured I saw in the paper – and she looked fabulous.

Playing the alcohol loving fashionista roll of Celia, Ellison was fun, sexy, quick and did all Liverpool girls proud.
Elaine C Smith who played Chris was brilliant – baring all earlier than the other in the show she showed what a great sport she is and really portrayed the spotlight loving character well.

Although a bit wet, the character of Annie was charming and heartfelt.
The Calendar Girls tells the story of a group of ‘mature’ women who are members of the Napley Women’s Institute, one of who’s husband is diagnosed with leukemia and dies shortly after. Together, the  ladies of the WI talk eachother into taking park in  a nude (NOT naked – NUDE) calendar to raise money for a new settee in the visitor’s room of the leukaemia ward at the hospital.

She photoshoot itself provides a hilarious climax to the show, but this isjust before the interval – after that it’s not so much hilarity but there are plenty of laughs running up to the conclusion of the performance.

Calendar Girls makes a great stage show – it sways form the film somewhat, but it’s totally understandable given if they did everything directly in tact with the film we would probably still be sitting watching the play until midnight.

Congratulations must go out to the entire cast and crew. This show is exciting, funny, heart wrenching and above all, true to the original calendar girls.

Calendar Girls
Liverpool Empire Theatre

27 September – 2 October 2010
Mon – Sat 7.30pm
Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm
£12.50, £20.00 and £27.50
Box office: 0844 847 2525
www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk