Showing @ King’s Theatre Edinburgh
As the musical motif ‘Jerusalem’ begins and lingers throughout this two act play the audience knows what they are about to see, a show as comforting as a cup of hot chocolate on a winter’s evening. As a man amongst this almost exclusively female audience, most of a certain age, I feel I have been given an insight of the WI that not many men receive; sentimental, formulaic and populist it may be – but these comments should not be held against the play but should be used as plaudits. It should wrap these words around itself like a battle-flag.
The superb ensemble that gives the erudite writing of Tim Firth true wonder are mere conduits for the peculiar women of the Rylstone Women’s Institute.
The cast enjoy their time together on stage and have an understanding that the audience can devour. Elaine C Smith (Rab C Nesbitt) as Mary Doll , stands out and with the biggest punch lines as the Edinburgh viewers took the Scottish girl to their hearts and reserved for her, their biggest laughs. Rachael Lumberg as Ruth steals the show, with chameleon like changes, she moves from her dowdy put upon self at the start, growing into a strong minded woman full of her own belief and power.
The story unfolds with ease – mixing pathos and heart-warming comedy in equal measure, never preaching and not taking itself too seriously. The subject of cancer is touchingly dealt with and from the faces around me it was obvious that some of the audience had dealt with the problems unfolding on stage themselves. As the play finishes and a banner is unfurled reminding everyone that over two million pounds has been raised for Leukaemia charities, the true stars of this show become apparent. The original ’Calendar Girls’ of the WI.