Opens Friday, Sept. 11 and runs for three weekends
— by Doug Bechtel for Actors Theater —
“Calendar Girls” Melinda Milligan, Suzanne Gropper, Lesley Liddle, Bev Leyman, Holly King and Bailie Sande check out the calendar that accompanies their play
Our next offering is the most talked-about play we have ever done. The Buzz is out and it is GOOD! The Actors Theater announces seven performances of “Calendar Girls” at the Orcas Grange, beginning Sept. 11.
“Calendar Girls” is based on a true story of a Women’s Institute (WI) in Yorkshire, England who put together a calendar to raise money for leukemia research. This play, written by Tim Wirth (who also co-wrote the screenplay for the movie of the same name) has a cast of 14 people; some new to the Actors Theater and many of our regulars.
When Annie’s(Suzanne Gropper) husband John (Tony Lee) dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris (Bev Leyman) resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow WI members (Holly King, Lesley Liddle, Melinda Milligan and Bailey Sande) to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence (Kelly Toombs).
The news of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame. Other actors include Aaimee Johnson, Annette Garver, Carla Weston, Freddy Hinkle, John Mazzarella and Quija Keogh. “Calendar Girls” is directed by Doug Bechtel.
“Calendar Girls” will open on Friday, September 11th with additional performances on Saturday, the 12th; Friday, the 18th; Saturday, the 19th; Friday the 25th; Saturday, the 26th and Sunday the 27th. All performances are at the Grange at 7:30 pm.
Ticket sales at the door will be EXTREMELY limited. If you want to see “Calendar Girls,” purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are $10 and are available at Darvills and on-line at www.orcasactors.com. Almost 40% of the on-line tickets have already been sold!!
The cast and crew of our local production of “Calendar Girls” have also made a 2016 calendar which will be available for purchase at intermission.
What some newspapers have said about “Calendar Girls”:
“It’s a show full of poignant moments – about friendship, determination and hope; about loss in many forms; about the importance of acceptance; about knowing when to let go. But it also offers plenty of humour, as the six friends and WI members decide to pose nude for a calendar” – Liverpool Daily Post
“Unashamedly sentimental and full of heart and bare-faced cheek, Tim Firth’s stage adaptation of his own film script, inspired by the group of Yorkshire WI members who stripped off for a charity calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research, should rake in a bob or two itself.” – The Guardian.
The cast, crew and director have been working on this production all summer and . . . it is a performance that brought me right into the story, not just an audience viewer. The range of emotions evoked is justice to the hard work everyone has done to present this true story. It is wonderful to have local people who have the talent to entertain and put forth a heartfelt production. Enjoy!