"Calendar Girls" - by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth - Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse (Putnam, CT) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Christine Healy as “Annie” with Tonya Brock as “Chris” in a scene from "CALENDAR GIRLS" by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through June 14, 2026. Photo Credit: Jeanne Foley)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“The flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire. Every stage of their growth has its own beauty, but the last phase is always the most glorious.”
- ("John") / Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth
Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc.
at the Bradley Playhouse
Presents Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth's
"CALENDAR GIRLS"
Written by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth
Directed by Tina Huey
Cast Includes: Tonya Brock as “Chris,” Christine Healy as “Annie,” Rebecca Theriaque as “Cora,” Sheila Harrington-Hughes as “Jessie,” Joan Stewart as “Celia,” JoAnn Bromley as “Ruth,” Marren Sanders as “Marie,” Dale Magnuson as “Lady Cravenshire,” Rylie Appolonia as “Elaine,” Bonnie Theriault as “Brenda Hulse,” Dan Healy as “John,” Wade Johnson as “Rod,” Ren Fontes as “Lawrence,” Jordan Miller as “Liam.”
Additional Creative Team:
Stage Manager – Jessica Hall; Assistant Stage Manager - Kerrissa Cobb; Artistic Committee Liaisons – Jeremy Woloski, Madeline Jaaskela; Production Manager - Jeanne Foley; Assistant Production Manager - Carol Schimmelpfennig; Production Coordinator - Kathleen Atwood; Costumers – Anna Kate Wrge, Darcey Bastow; Props – Bonnie Theriault, Melinda Collelo, Jessica Hall, Tina Huey, Kiku McDonald, Sarah Oschmann; Set Design/ Set Artist – Greg Brock; Set Painters – Greg Brock, Nora Miller; Lighting and Sound Design – Aidan Horrigan; Light Operator – Brenna Griswold; Sound Operator – Aidan Horrigan; Stage Crew – Leela Pahl; Set Construction – Jordan A. Miller, Greg Brock, Laura Moorehead, Nora Miller, Tina Huey, Joan Stewart.
Performances:
June 5, 2026 through June 14, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE, 30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam, CT. 06260-1942
TICKETS:
All seats reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887.
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Clear your schedule to see Tim Firth’s "CALENDAR GIRLS" now playing at the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut (TNECT) at the Bradley Playhouse.
Based on the 2003 Miramax film, the screenplay for "CALENDAR GIRLS" was co-written by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth, but the subsequent stage adaptation is written by Firth.
This is a charming little show which will have Bradley Playhouse audiences vacillating between teardrops and belly laughter due to the play’s scenes steeped in great sorrow and utter hilarity….yet both steeped in truth.
While the TNECT production of "CALENDAR GIRLS" takes some time to build to its notoriously “revealing” climax of its first act, under the cautious direction of Tina Huey, the material is tastefully performed as the cast of women (or "The Women of Yorkshire") bare themselves on stage, not only in flesh but in emotion, especially as all of them lose a friend to Leukemia.
The two-act comedy, which premiered on stage in England during the years of 2008 and 2009, is based upon a true story.
According to a TNECT press release, eleven members of the Rylstone and District Women's Institute established a goal to raise money for blood cancer research, in memory of a loved one, by selling 3,000 calendars of themselves in artfully arranged unclothed vignettes in place of the regular Women’s Institute (or the W.I.) calendar.
(Photo: Christine Healy as “Annie” with Dan Healy as “John” in a scene from "CALENDAR GIRLS" by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through June 14, 2026. Photo Credit: Jeanne Foley)
As "CALENDAR GIRLS" begins, all six female members of the W.I. are charged with selecting the latest annual calendar which helps raise funds for the Institute.
Previous years calendars have proven rather banal and have raised little funds, but a tragic event occurs which changes the direction of this year’s selection process.
W.I. member Annie (Christine Healy) loses her husband John (Dan Healy) to the catastrophic disease Leukemia.
Annie’s time spent at the hospital waiting room brings to light an issue of a much needed replacement Satie sofa for patient families to use while they…wait.
To help raise money for the new Satie, Annie and her friend, Chris (Tonya Brock), convince several of their friends and fellow W.I. members to contribute to the risqué nature of the calendar.
This decision is arrived at rather abruptly as there is little evolution leading up to their pronouncement, but Annie and Chris advise they were inspired to take a more salacious approach to the calendar after learning how other “girly” calendars, even ones not well made, raise millions of dollars and for far less altruistic endeavors.
All these women need is enough money to cover the cost of the Satie in John’s name under the auspices of the W.I.
For Annie, she feels it would be John’s final way of making a lasting contribution beyond his death.
The relationship between Christine Healy as Annie and Tonya Brock as Chris comes across as genuine, which is an important component as the duo strives to convince the others to go along with what seems at first to be an utterly absurd plan.
And yet, with some strongarm convincing, ultimately throwing caution (and clothing) to the wind by joining in the effort are: Jessie (Sheila Harrington-Hughes), Celia (Joan Stewart), Ruth (JoAnn Bromley) and Cora (Rebecca Theriaque).
(Photo: Joan Stewart as “Celia” with Tonya Brock as “Chris” in a scene from "CALENDAR GIRLS" by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through June 14, 2026. Photo Credit: Jeanne Foley)
Opposing the whole idea is Marie (Marren Sanders), the strict, overbearing chairwoman of the local chapter of the W.I.
Sanders is excellent portraying the antagonistic judgmental gatekeeper of tradition, stressing the rigid rules of the W.I., leaning into conformity as she attempts to preserve the reputation of the W.I. by opposing the bawdy fundraising calendar.
Other W.I. events and moments do not go as initially planned, but they do allow us to be introduced to a trio of patronizing characters with highly entertaining TNECT performances by Dale Magnuson as snobbish “Lady Cravenshire,” Rylie Appolonia as coquetting “Elaine” and Bonnie Theriault as broccoli-enthusiast “Brenda Hulse.”
The women enlist part time photographer, Lawrence (Ren Fontes) to take photos for the calendar, which without question (and clothing) is the funniest scene in the show.
Fontes is hilarious as the self-conscious, intimidated shutterbug Lawrence who must maneuver around the actresses in an attempt to make them feel less self-conscious and intimidated when they are all in their…well, in their “all there.
(Photo: Christine Healy as “Annie” with Ren Fontes as “Lawrence” in a scene from "CALENDAR GIRLS" by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through June 14, 2026. Photo Credit: Jeanne Foley)
While the actresses are unclothed on stage, the nudity is brief, partial and tastefully choreographed with covertly placed items in front of them obscuring several, uh, “areas.”
Credit should be given to the myriads of engaging costumes and cleverly placed props used throughout this part of the TNECT show.
During Act Two, the surprising global and media popularity of the calendar shocks the ladies, which forces them to re-examine their original intent.
The unexpected fame of the calendar and its publicized intent also yield unexpected letters of support which affect Annie the most as she tries to respond to them personally.
This creates greater conflict between Annie and Chris, the latter of whom seems to relish in the newfound spotlight.
In fact, she arranges for the women to do a commercial run by Liam (well played by Jordan A. Miller), a rather boorish director.
As written by Firth and directed by Huey, the collective TNECT performances in "CALENDAR GIRLS" are solid. Harrington-Hughes, Stewart, Bromley and Theriaque are all given moments to shine as their respective characters.
The remaining male performers include Dan Healy as John, who makes the most of his time on stage by giving a sensitive, impactful performance as Annie's doomed but loving husband; while Wade Johnson as Rod has some decent exchanges with Brock as his wife and business partner Chris.
(Photo: Christine Healy as “Annie” with Tonya Brock as “Chris” in a scene from "CALENDAR GIRLS" by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through June 14, 2026. Photo Credit: Jeanne Foley)
The efficient TNECT set design allows for quick scene changes but there appears to be an over-dependency on the use of blackouts for relatively minor set redresses - With six scenes in the first act and eight in the second, some feel completely unnecessary.
While taking place in England, British accents tend to be hit or miss, if attempted at all, but the ensemble works well together, appearing comfortable on stage and enjoying their time together, clothed or otherwise.
These complaints are relatively minor as the performances will be what audiences will walk away remembering, and they are mostly memorable.
It should be noted that that first year the W.I. sold 88,000 calendars and since then, they have raised over five million dollars for cancer research - reminding all that beauty is ageless and a determined spirit powered by undying love can accomplish anything.
"CALENDAR GIRLS" continues from TNECT at the Bradley Playhouse until June 14th, 2026. Coming in July from TNECT at the Bradley Playhouse will be the Disney musical “FROZEN" beginning July 24th and running through August 8th, 2026.
For tickets and more information, visit www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or call # 860-928-7887.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
In "CALENDAR GIRLS" by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth - When Annie's husband John dies of Leukemia, she and her long-standing best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room.
With varying levels of encouragement, they 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 is put to the test with their new-found fame and Chris is forced to question her real motivation behind doing the calendar.
Tim Firth’s hilarious play is based on the true story of eleven W.I. members who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund in 1999. (STAGEAGENT).
ABOUT THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE
THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE is a 117 year-old vaudeville theatre in the heart of the Putnam antiques and restaurant district in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeastern Connecticut. Since 1991, THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE has been managed by the volunteers of The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT).
ABOUT THEATRE OF NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT (TNECT)
TNECT produces eight main season shows per year and a number of special fundraising events for The Bradley Playhouse Restoration Fund. TNECT’s mission is to produce and sponsor quality theatre and entertainment for the residents of Northeastern Connecticut and the surrounding areas, to encourage the development of creativity through the support of local artists, and to support education and hands-on experience in the creation, direction, and production of theatre and the performing arts.
30 Front Street
P.O. Box # 71
Putnam, CT. 06260-1942
