"Calendar Girls" by Blind Eye Productions

Bonnington Theatre, Arnold.

When Annie's husband John dies of leukaemia, she and her long-standing best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They eventually persuade four friends and fellow members of the Women’s Institute (W.I.) to pose nude with them for an "alternative" calendar. They are assisted by hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence, who looked after John in his final days. This is much to the horror of the their local W.I. chairman, Marie.

The success of the calendar goes beyond their wildest dreams and they have soon raised the money needed and much more. Their efforts also catch the attention of the national and international press, who soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. Although the calendar is a huge success, Chris and Annie's friendship though is put to the test by their new-found fame.

Tim Firth’s play is based on the true story of a number of W.I. members who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund in 1999.

Jackie Cooper (Annie), Lindsey Hemingway (Chris), Gill Cook (Jessie), Emily Hudson (Cora), Michelle Beecroft (Brenda), Kay Thomas-Vardy (Celia) and Lisa B Wilde (Ruth) are our gorgeous pin up Calendar Girls. Each character has a different back story, which is also revealed. This group of actors gelled so well together, reflecting their love for acting as well as highlighting the love and friendship the six characters have for each other. Their humour shines so brightly via Tim Firth's script, and it's a warmth and feminine humour rises to the top.

I've seen this play several times and I never tire of seeing, and hearing that message of love depicted on stage by a group of actors, such as we have here, who know how to deliver comedy and pathos. When that happens, the story unravels and you believe what you hear and see, and that is when it can really affect you and theatre touches you like no other medium, because it's right in front of your eyes.

I'm not going to write swathes of adjectives to describe every one of these six ladies' acting prowess; I don't need to, they operate as a team, and they certainly won as a team in this play. And I also take my hat off to you all for baring (nearly) all in front of a live audience. The bravado needed, and the trust shown in the Directors itself, deserves a round of applause.

In a play like this, the male actors are nearly all just supports - and I mean that in a good way, due to the story line of course.

Nik Hudson (John) shows the advancement of the leukaemia physically and makes an impact with his loss, even though you know it's coming.

Kevin Jones (Rod) plays Chris' husband, battling through business problems with the floristry.

Paul Duffy (Lawrence) is the shy - yes, he can do shy very well - photographer who rapidly comes out of his shell when he actually gets behind the camera for the photo shoots.

Bertie Black (Liam) plays the person in charge of the shoot for the TV commercial, originally in the film in Hollywood, but in this version, a little closer to home. And may I say, Bertie's projection is one of the best in this cast!

Marcia Wood (Marie) plays the pompous, and quite pious Knapeley WI leader really well. There are some lovely mood swings with Marie to watch out for.

Ann Colgan (Lady Cravenshire), and like Marcia, is a lovely character actor. Only a minor role but one with nice comic touches.

Abigail Kirkpatrick (Elaine) plays the make-up artist drafted in for the TV commercial shoot.

Michelle Breecroft (Brenda Hulse) is the guest speaker who arrived to present a talk about broccoli to the WI.

Fleshing out the ensemble were Charlotte Hukin, Beth Duffy and Laura Harding.

Directed by JJ Gill and Adam Chapman. There were several characters and scenes that were omitted, which made for a cleaner and streamlined play version, but I think that if anyone was seeing this version of the play for the first time, they'd be none the wiser of the omitted characters and the edits are invisible.

There's an added, and very poignant screened section in this production to the music of Eva Cassidy's "Fields Of Gold", tying in the message as well as the golden sunflower theme. This section is by Paul Duffy, who also created the visual backdrop.

With a show like this one there are quite a variety of props needed; everything from iced buns, knitting needles and music sheets to photographic paraphernalia, broccoli and projectors. The list of props throughout are many and are managed by Charlotte Hukin.

A lovely set which partly folded away from the WI room to show the hillock needed for the girls to practice their open-air tai chi. This was the design of Zackary McCormack and Grant Hemingway.

Costume Design for the show is by Adam Chapman.

The Sound and Lighting is by Peter Hodgkinson.

If you've never seen the play version of "Calendar Girls", get yourself a ticket. If you have seen the play version of "Calendar Girls", also get yourself a ticket because there is so much warmth in this play, or has the air conditioning not been switched on again?

Another Blind Eye success for everyone involved.

Blind Eye are also raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support throughout the run by holding raffles, so if you can, please give generously.

"Calendar Girls" are at Bonnington Theatre, Arnold until Saturday 27 May.