Annie Get Your Gun

I confess, I prefer musical comedy to some of the doomy-gloomy shows that are currently so fashionable.  So what a pleasure to be invited to see this production of Annie Get your Gun with its superbly tuneful, score by Irving Berlin.  Most composers would count themselves lucky to assemble this many hits over a lifetime. Berlin put them all into one show, combining instantly memorable tunes like Anything You Can Do, There’s No Business Like Show Business, Doing What Comes Natur’lly, The Girl that I Marry, You Cant Get a Man with a Gun the beautiful love song I Got Lost in His Arms, and so many more.  The show tells the story of two sharp shooters in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, who find their love for each other undermined by professional rivalry.

The Orchestra, under the direction of Simon Pickup were excellent.  The volume was good and the singers were never drowned, and you kept up a great pace with plenty of light and shade for the ‘slushy bits’.

Costumes looked really good and everyone appeared quite comfortable and totally at ease with whatever they were wearing.  Scenery was adequate – but I loved the train and the concept of using the cast as the engine worked really well.

It is a great pity that the show does present as a little dated – if I say that the curtain did not come in on this production until 10.30pm it perhaps gives some indication.  I did feel that the show was too long and some of the dance routines – although very good – would I think have benefitted from being shortened somewhat or perhaps shortening or cutting some of the reprises?  That said, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show, there are just so many great tunes (ones you know but had forgotten came from this show).  The acting and singing were generally very good – with some excellent characterisations from the whole cast, chorus and principals alike, and lots of big smiles.

It was also wonderful to see a team of youngsters working alongside the more mature and experienced members of the cast.  I saw ‘Team Frank’ who were a delight to watch – enthusiastic and energetic and generally good, clear diction and plenty of smiles.  They really looked as if they were enjoying themselves – I certainly was!

I have to mention the snake.  Yes I did say snake.  This group actually had a live snake on stage as one of the fairground acts.  At the interval the audience were invited to come and meet the snake – so I did, and pictorial evidence is available! (Oh the joys of being a NODA Councillor).  Seriously, what a wonderful quirky touch.

I always enjoy visiting Centenary and this was certainly no exception – very many thanks to everyone connected with this toe-tapping musical for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

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