PICTURES | Longford's Backstage Theatre Group scores a perfect 12 with fantastic Calendar Girls

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It's as if Backstage Theatre Group can do no wrong. Their latest production Calendar Girls received a rapturous response from audiences on each of their four night run. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

Tim Firth’s play is based on the true story of eleven women who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

When Annie’s husband John dies of leukaemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room.

They manage to persuade four fellow Women’s Institute members to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence.

This show was directed by Charlie McGuinness, who has completed a trilogy with the Longford town amateur drama group having previously directed The Snapper and Sive.

The strength of this production was largely down to the remarkable depth of female acting talent in BTG. Leading the charge were Christine O’Brien as Chris and Janice Gibney as Annie.

The two actors work incredibly well off each other, bringing a real sense of camaraderie, inviting the audience to be part of a close knit group.

The photo shoot part of the play induced an ebullience to the theatre that crackled around the audience thanks to the performance of Niamh Hanley (Cora), Maureen Dunne (Jessie), Laura Brennan (Celia) and Áine Brady (Ruth).

This was a large cast with strong performances from Dee Monahan (Marie); Mary McLoughlin (Brenda); Ger Rafferty (John); Phil Cox (Rod); Michelle Ciba (Elaine); and Anthony Heavey (Liam). A special mention must go to Davy Flaherty's Lawrence and Eileen Murphy's Lady Cravenshire, with both actors squeezing the audience for every laugh possible.

The set had a simplicity to it, a wide space to accommodate the big story, with a lighting plan that retained the necessary intimacy. Sold out every night, the audiences were quick to their feet with their applause.

Calendar Girls was staged at Backstage Theatre from Wednesday, March 12, to Saturday March 15.

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