Broadway World - Recommended
"...Eisenberg has directed cautiously, letting the comedy roll. If the play slows down it's in the writing and not due to him; he has directed with fine pacing. Calendar Girls is an ensemble piece in every sense of the word. Bernath, always a resourceful actress, Peterson, Butler, Davis, Keigley, Tolomanoska, Faye, Jennifer Nicole Ross, BeLinda Howell, another standout as the opposition Marie, and men Guinn, Chris Winfield, Haverty and Devin Juleff, are all in top form. J Kent Inasy is to be commended for a very colorful set design, which adds to the overall brightness and optimistic viewpoint of the play."
LA Splash - Somewhat Recommended
"...At the same time, however, the play seems a bit overlong. The pacing sometimes appeared to be a little slow; and some skilled editing would probably have helped - especially at the beginning of the first act. Towards the end of the second act, a rather contrived conflict was thrown in which may not have been essential to plot development. The brightest and funniest moments in the play ("The Scene") brought together all the fears and fun and helped focus the piece. Too many details before and after "The Scene" only serve to dilute the overall effect. Despite these relatively minor issues, CALENDAR GIRLS is a delightful production; and the audience is guaranteed to leave the show smiling."
ReviewPlays.com - Highly Recommended
"...Firth adapted the film into a play, and after seeing it, I am pleased to be able to absolve you of any skepticism you might have, and tell you that you will not only find it in good taste, but you will enjoy every moment of this charming and well-written comedy superbly directed by Larry Eisenberg."
The Tolucan Times - Highly Recommended
"...This highly entertaining comedy was written with TASTEFULLY NAUGHTY British flair by Tim Firth and directed with PLAYFUL PASSION by Larry Eisenberg. It is a non-stop marathon of sassy fun! Starring a dozen middle aged femme fatales, one featured male and three other men in supporting roles...the insanity rums rampant!"
Stage Raw - Somewhat Recommended
"...When a group of middle-aged ladies in Yorkshire, in northern England, decided to bare (almost) all to raise money for leukemia research, they got more than they bargained for. In addition to raising a fortune for their charity, they also created a scandal that gained them international attention. Their story was made into a highly successful film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, with a screenplay by Juliet Towhidi and Tim Firth. Then co-author Firth wrote a stage version of the piece, which scored a spectacular success in England. It's that stage adaptation that is now on view at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, under the direction of Larry Eisenberg."
On Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended
"...While I admit I have never seen the movie, parts of this adaptation felt a bit superfluous, particularly in the first act. The idea for the calendar comes out of left field midway through after a lot of build-up that could be easily condensed, and the play doesn't truly come to life until the pivotal photo shoot, which comprises a lengthy and extremely fun scene that ends the first act. Some subplots, such as Chris and her husband, Rod's (Chris Winfield) struggling flower shop or the women's ongoing rivalry with the old-fashioned chairwoman of their WI division, Marie (Belinda Howell), never make it past half-baked, and while some character arcs play out perfectly, others feel lacking."
