Girls just want to have fun

 One of the great joys of being a theatre critic is that one week we’re Waiting for Godot, the next we’re watching a load of veteran comediennes strip off.

Given that disparity, the only criteria you can apply is whether the work is any good or not.  That by its very nature is subjective, but if applied to Calendar Girls then it passes that test.

It is beautifully played by what appears to be a who’s who of British light comedy.  It is also refreshing to watch a play about older women that puts them centre stage, unashamedly celebrating their strengths with the male characters being bit players. 

Everyone knows this is based on a true story of how the women of a Women’s Institute in a small Yorkshire village who stripped off for a Pirelli style calendar to raise money for Leukaemia research.   

For dramatic purposes the ever skilful Tim Firth has created a fictional village and characters, but the story of the women’s journey to world wide fame, and selling a calendar to the Queen, is much the same. 

Loose Woman Lynda Bellingham is the undoubted star using her vast experience to bring to life the pushy, but vulnerable, Chris who dreamt up the idea.  But she is matched gag for gag by another veteran June Watson as the prim Jessie, who reveals a secret raunchy side. 

The scenes where the women strip off are tastefully done, although a special mention should go to former Emmerdale star Lisa Riley who really does let most of it hang out. 

It is a sad indictment of theatre that roles for women of certain age are few and far between which is remedied here as age is not seen as barrier to having fun, or raising three million quid to fight what they describe as a ‘shitty, sly disease.’   

I’ve sat through far too many plays bored rigid as gags fall flat, and people rightly walk out at the interval.  Not here, as the gales of laughter ring round the Grand despite the gags being very obvious, and the set up equally so. 

But it is laughter of a mainly female audience who recognise themselves on stage and – in many cases – have lost love ones to said shitty disease. 

Sometimes it is just great to sit back and watch highly skilled comic actresses let rip, and it is always entertaining to watch a show where the cast are clearly having as much fun as the audience. 

Across town audiences are enjoying the story of a 19^th century woman who knocked out one classic novel whereas this is a story of ordinary women who did something brave and extraordinary.  The truth is both celebrate strong women and work on their own very different merits.

* Calendar Girls is at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday 31 March . Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 0844 848 2705 or online at leedsgrandtheatre.com.