Annie Get Your Gun

First of all huge congratulations to the two leads in Longwood's production of Annie Get Your Gun.
I thought Zoe Clarkson was excellent in the title role, which could have been written especially for her.
She really has developed into a fine all-round performer with a confident singing voice and some wonderful touches in her brilliant characterisation of the legendary Annie Oakley.
And she was particularly well matched with Martin Stead who now looks evey inch the leading man, with such a comfortable and relaxed style both vocally and in the dialogue with his effortless portrayal of sharp-shooting Frank Butler.
There was fine support too from Becky Sutcliffe as the tetchy Dolly Tate, it was just a pity she didn't have more to do, especially on the vocal side.
Becky was appearing with daughter Leyla, who along with Charlotte Sowerby and Charlie Topham lended much to the production as Annie's younger siblings.
Other support came from the experienced Richard Armstrong as Charlie Davenport and Gerard Marescaux as  Buffalo Bill Cody along with first timer Cameron Chapman as Tommy and Lucy Crossley as Winnie.
Directed by Colin Harris  with Lynn Clarkson as choregrapher, the show is the revised version by Peter Stone, which still includes popular numbers such as There's No Business Like Show Business, The Girl That I Marry and Anything You Can Do.
However, there is limited opportunities for significant chorus work and  the storyline still retains that old style feel of musical with a rather cliche-ridden plot.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.