Love, loss and laughter at center of Theatre Macon's 'Calendar Girls'
When Theatre Macon Director Jim Crisp chose the play "Calendar Girls" a year ago, he was looking for a show that was quality and worth putting on the stage.
The age-old challenge of finding good plays that offer multiple well-written parts for women pushed him toward this show.
"A friend of mine brought me a copy of this play," Crisp said. "I knew of the film, but I didn't realize that the play had been adapted. We have a lovely, sweet story of seven women friends who belong to the Women's Institute, which happens to be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year."
Even though the show, which opens Friday, has an English setting, Crisp said the characters are accessible to anyone.
"One of the characters, Annie, is dealing with the death of her husband from cancer. Her friends decide to do some kind of charitable event to raise money to replace the sofa in the family lounge in the hospital," he said. "They come up with the idea of doing a semi-nude calendar. All of these woman are middle-aged or older, but they decide that sex and flesh sells, so they forge ahead."
Based on a true story, Crisp said the play is "about friendship, community and spiritual rebirth as we move past our sense of loss and learn how to best remember those loved ones who have gone on. ... When I read (the play), I knew that I must choose it. You cannot help but respond to these characters and this story. We've all experienced this type of loss and community."
Crisp assures the audiences that there's no actual nudity in the performance.
"This is done in a delicate way," he said. "The audience only sees what they are supposed to see and no one on stage or in the audience will be uncomfortable. I would say that anyone 12 or older will enjoy this play, especially women with daughters and granddaughters."
The cast has been working with two dialect coaches to give the show a fun English flavor, and he said the play has presented some special challenges for costumer Shelley Kuhen.
"We've learned a lot about English culture, Tai Chi, the Hymn Jerusalem, British dialect and many other trivialities we didn't know before," Crisp said. "That is one of the things that is so great about theater and the stories it tells. It informs us about cultures and people and human hearts and minds that help bind us together."
Crisp added that with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it's the perfect time to do this particular play.
"Many women are thinking about that this time of year and most of us know someone who has fought breast cancer," he said. "This show is a good reminder of women's health issues, and community awareness of health issues in general."
"Calendar Girls"
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 16-17, 23-24; 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22
Where: Theatre Macon, 438 Cherry St.
Cost: $25 adults, $18 seniors (60+), $15 students (through age 22)
Information: 478-746-9485; www.theatremacon.com
This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Love, loss and laughter at center of Theatre Macon's 'Calendar Girls' ."