Calamity Jane

This production was very well planned with excellent continuity, pace and energy. The fun started well with the ushers in costume and the safety announcement very neatly adapted to the show. The progression from scene to scene was smooth and well co-ordinated, while the Black Hills scene and the ending with the weddings were brilliant! Casting was excellent, and all in all, the atmosphere of rough living created was perfect in this show!

Costumes were brilliant. The dresses for the ladies in Act 2 were lovely and I liked the authentic touch of ladies have dance books and pencils.  The costumes for Adelaide Adams and for Katie Brown were very creative, with the exchange of skirt. The yellow dresses for Calamity were very well handled. Meanwhile the chorus all looked authentically Western in their checked shirts and big hats, and the four dancers looked great in their black dresses and corsets.

The music was excellently played and the singing and dancing were extremely good. The sound effects were well timed, and well acted on stage.  The choreography was interesting and varied and very well performed.

The acting was exceptionally good. Everyone played their part to the full and really brought to life the situations of small town Mid-west America.  It was great to see everyone playing their roles continuously in the background, giving the show a sense of reality that is rare.  

The lead roles were all very well played, with Susan Miller being wonderfully flirtatious with a beautifully played Francis Fryer. Wild Bill Hickock was wonderfully calm beside a very energetic and well-acted Calamity Jane who had a wonderful accent and facial elasticity!  Danny Gilmartn and Mr Miller were equally very well played, with Mr Miller constantly cleaning the bar and tables and chatting to customers while Danny rebuffed the flirting of Calamity. Adelaide Adams and Katie Brown were very well acted and sung, as the pin up and her maid.  Indeed the scene where Katie tries to play Adelaide was very well done.

Altogether, this was a fun evening of wonderful music and songs, excellent acting and dance and enormous good humour. Congratulations to you all!

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