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Calamity Jane -
Musical
Adapted for the stage by Charles K Freeman, from a screenplay by James
O'Hanlon which starred Doris Day as Jane.
Composer - Sammy Fain
Lyricist - Paul Francis Webster
Orchestral and vocal arrangements - Philip J Lang
Director - Ed Curtis
Designer - Simon Higlett
Choreographer - Craig Revel Horwood
Lighting Designer - James Whiteside
Sound Design - Simon Whitehorn for Orbital
Musical Director - Robert Cousins
Cast
Company - Tristan Baker Productions in association with Northampton
Theatres Ltd
Venue Seen - Kings Theatre, Glasgow
Dates - Monday 20th - Saturday 25th January 2003 in Glasgow then
at Edinburgh Festival Theatre.
0131 529 6000 Nicholson St www.eft.co.uk
.
28 Jan -1 Feb at 7:30pm also Mats on Thurs and Sat at 2:30pm.then
continues on tour.
Reviewer - Jay Dee
Great fun but not much else.
The warm amber glow of a desert sunrise bathes the wild west backwater
of Deadwood. Set against a beautiful backdrop of craggy hills and rolling
clouds, three miniature houses, straight out of the OK Corral, disappear
into the distance. They are framed by enormous wooden walls which fluidly
open to allow other locations to appear. Simon Higlett's beautiful design
for this touring production of the musical, *Calamity
Jane, is one of the best things about the show. The scenes are
painted with broad, lavish strokes and lighting is used in the same lush
and colourful style.
Given that the musical itself is not the meatiest of pieces, the director
has made a wise decision to approach the staging in the same way - characters
are larger than life and bold as brass. The direction and choreography
are incredibly slick and mobile and the show certainly speeds along.
It's a shame, then, that the production is let down by its lead actress,
Toyah Wilcox, her acting as the titular Jane is sparky and spirited
but her singing is disappointingly weak. This shows especially in scenes
with her love interest, Wild Bill Hickok, played in fine voice and
fine style by Alasdair Harvey. The supporting cast are also strong,
making much of many underwritten parts. Most notable are Kellie Ryan
as the maid turned starlet Katie Brown and Phil Ormerod whose dancing
as Francis Fryer is strangely reminiscent of Dick Van Dyke.
On the whole the production is great fun but not much else. The ensemble
singing is good but is often overwhelmed by the orchestra, a common problem
with touring musicals. And all the great design and strong performances
cannot make up for a musical which feels slight and dated, especially
in its attitudes towards women.
ŠJay Dee 21st January 2003 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
*Editor's note - The musical is based on the
life of a real woman who got the name of Calamity Jane when she daring
rescued a man from Red Indians. Like the real Annie Oakely she had dealings
with Wild Bill Hickok ending up after a varied life buried beside him.
Bill also appears in this musical as he does in the one based on Annie
Oakley - Annie Get Your Gun.
Cast List -
Toyah Wilcox - Calamity Jane
Alasdair Harvey - Wild Bill Hickok
Kellie Ryan - Katie Brown
Dustin Dubreuil - Lt. Danny Gilmartin
Tony Stansfield - Henry Miller
Helen Harper - Susan
Phil Ormerod - Francis Fryer
Ahmet Ahmet - Prospector / Ensemble
Caroline Aslett, Paul Hemming - Swings
Lynsey Britton, Carly Hainsby, Cameron Leigh - Ensemble
Alan Bradshaw - Doc / Ensemble
Michael Broughton - Hank / Ensemble / Dance Captain
John Coates - Rattlesnake / Ensemble
Gareth Derrick - Pete / Ensemble
Emma Dodd - Adelaid / Ensemble
Ian Gareth Jones - Joe / Doorman / Ensemble
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