Following numerous highly acclaimed productions such as Sweeney Todd and Sunset Boulevard, The Watermill Theatre has done it again with a marvellously thigh slapping, whip cracking version of the popular musical Calamity Jane.
Set in the wild, dusty, Old West of Deadwood City, Dakota Territory, 1876, this is the story of buckskinned tomboy Calamity Jane, played by Jodie Prenger, winner of the BBC's I'd Do Anything, a programme which gave her the opportunity to play Nancy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Oliver in the West End; a role for which she achieved both critical and public acclaim. It's not surprising to learn that she has also been nominated in the Broadway World UK Awards for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her vivacious portrayal of Calamity Jane. With perfectly-timed comic delivery alongside tender moments, Prenger beautifully portrays a woman who, beneath the dusty buckskins, has a sensitive and sentimental heart, performing a particularly moving performance of ‘Secret Love‘.
Calamity dresses like a man and shoots like a man, her skills and fearlessness matched only by dandy Wild Bill Hickok, with whom she has a friendly rivalry. Donning the gunslinger outfit was Tom Lister, best known for his role as Carl King in Emmerdale, who smouldered his way through the show, beautifully delivering his solo number 'Higher than a Hawk'.
This strong production, directed perfectly by Nikolai Foster, is an all-singing and all-dancing version of the Doris Day classic film about an independent woman making her way in a man’s world. Following a misunderstanding, Calamity tries to help the local saloon, The Golden Garter, by promising to bring famous music-hall star Adelaid Adams from "Chicagy" Problem is she brings back the wrong gal, mistaking Adam’s dresser, Katie Brown (Phoebe Street), for Adams, who only happens to be trying on Adam’s corset when she finds her. A case of mistaken identity is not the only problem when Brown also becomes a rival to'Calams' for the affections of Lt Gilmartin.
There is some terrific casting. The multi talented team not only sing, act and do-si-do, with some fabulous choreography by Nick Winston, but they also play their own musical instruments, something which we are seeing more of in musicals these days. Even before the faded curtain goes up, a solitary banjo is seen hanging from it, which is taken down and played by Jamie Noar (Hank) as the theatre lights go down, indicative of the fact that, along with props, many of the instruments are cleverly hidden around the set and used throughout, and you’ve got to love a show that uses coconut shells for galloping horses.
The set transports the audience back to the 19th century. Clever design by Matthew Wright sees near seamless scene changes (something else the cast do) A piano doubles not only as a stage coach but also cupboards in Calamity’s home, in a set which manages to capture the charm and character of the Wild West, and is as colourful as the speech.
Fantastic musical arrangements are by Catherine Jayes, with the production including classic numbers with songs such as ‘Windy City’, ‘A Woman's Touch’, ‘Black Hills of Dakota’, ‘Adelaide’ and of course ‘The Deadwood Stage (Whip Crack Away)’, and an Oscar-nominated score.
Yes, ok the story may be a little outdated in its attitude to roles for women, but as a feel good show it’s whip-cracking.
Calamity Jane plays at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday October 7 to Saturday October 11 2014.
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