"Calendar Girls"... Pay attention to the "s".

Let me start by saying this: "Being able to see this play is a great happiness in life."

The story is a comedy from the UK based on a true story, where friends literally bare it all to create a nude calendar for a deceased friend, but it is more than just a comedy.

The first half shows ordinary ladies running around for "what they can do for others right now"
with a lighthearted, impactful, and humorous pace.
Entering the second half, the characters are swept away by the raw exhilaration of the calendar's success,
and their loss of purpose vividly reveals "human weakness and foolishness,"
pressing in on the audience.

Many of the performers are actresses and actors who can be called veterans.
Perhaps they are building their performances based on their own life experiences,
but it is good that they do not rely entirely on that, keeping it within the depth of the acting.

That is precisely why the characters feel like real residents of Yorkshire, and
the play culminates not as an event involving strangers in a foreign land, but as a story close to home.

Young actresses or celebrities would at best become "calendar girls" of superficial eroticism, and would likely not be able to create something of this caliber.

And that brings us to the "...s" part.
In the short after-talk held after the performance, the cast mentioned it was "a truly luxurious cast,"
and I agree.
Even though their genres differ, such as stage actors and voice actors,
people who are truly suited for their roles have been cast.

Truly, "Calendar Girls" is a space that sows "seeds of the sun" in the hearts of those who watch it, created by the skill and character of producers Yui Komazuka and Kyoko Muramatsu, the direction team's meticulous yet non-restrictive approach, and the "girls"—the cast—who are smiling and enjoying their performances to the fullest.

As for the main characters, many people will likely talk about them somewhere, so here I would like to talk a little about the "girls who don't strip" who support from the sidelines.
Personally, I love the presence of Reiko Muranaka as the Duchess, whose very existence brings a smile to my face. In the after-talk, she mentioned that it was her "first time" playing a flirtatious role, but her ability to steal laughs in an instant is wonderful.
And then there is Ako Mayama as the Broccoli Lady. She pays attention to her clothes and props,
and her boldness in using real broccoli is also appealing.
As mentioned in the after-talk, since it is real, secretly checking the changes in the broccoli over time is a unique pleasure of live theater. I hope you will check it out at the theater.

Finally, I apologize as this is a very personal impression, but
for Kyoko Muramatsu, a long-time friend and one of the planners of this project,
I think it was truly a happy thing to be able to work with Yui Komazuka, including on the production.

Actress Kyoko Muramatsu, who often plays relatively eccentric roles and is often asked to stir things up on stage, was able to utilize that eccentric personality while
bringing the entire play to a moving finale,
and I feel that this is largely due to this irreplaceable partner.
I hope to see the two of them team up and perform together again someday.

After the performance, I also bought the newly taken calendar of the cast using photos taken directly from the stage
without hesitation. Of course, not just as a sign of support, but so that I will never forget that I was present at this moment of joy.

I heard there are only a few seats left, but if you have time, please go see it with your own eyes.

The play "Calendar Girls." Until July 6th, at Nakano The Pocket.

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