Calamity Jane

It was a real pleasure to see Calamity Jane at East Kilbride Village Theatre. Theatre Guild normally perform at Eastwood Theatre but due to some difficulties in securing Eastwood Theatre for this production, they took their show to East Kilbride. Theatre Guild played to sold out performances, and it was excellent to know that their show was well supported despite the change of venue. The show was entertaining from start to finish and the performance showcased a wide range of talented people. Calamity Jane played by Caroline Telfer brought boundless energy to the show and her strong performance was underpinned by her excellent vocal and acting ability. Wild Bill Hickok played by James McShane complemented Calamity’s role and his performance was equally as strong. The roles of Katie Brown played by Rachel Hepburn and Lt. Danny Gilmartin, Ross McKune brought their talents to bear and their singing and acting abilities shone through the roles. The roll of Miller was played by Judith Miller and it was good to see that this role normally played by a man was equally as well portrayed by a woman. Susan and Francis Fryer, played by Katy Devine and Ross Weston complemented each other in their roles. Adele Simpson in the role of Adelaide Adams showed strength in the role and Jenny Morris as Jo ensured the Golden Garter ran smoothly. David Sturgeon, John Turnbull, and David Brown showed great characterisation in their roles, and a company of singers and dancers this forty plus strong cast brought their talents to the stage as they brought the story of Calamity Jane to life.

I would like to highlight the work of Challum Brown for his innovative and impressive set design. Scenes flowed with ease, particularly the way in which The Black Hills Of Dakota was directed and the use of the set with the hanging lanterns in Fort Scully.  There were clever touches in the cabin transformation, and overall the set worked extremely well. Greg Robertson’s choreography was slick, lively, and appropriate to the era and there was a good balance between the pit and the stage under the musical direction of Alistair Peter. Bringing a more traditional show to the stage can be challenging in keeping it fresh and exciting, but Jon Cuthbertson’s vision for the show was well executed. Stage crew serve an important role in the theatre and one we can’t do without, and they ensure that everything on the night runs to plan. The commitment to their backstage role was evident in the production. Having received a very warm welcome to the theatre, I would like to say thank you for inviting me and bringing pleasure to the audiences who thoroughly enjoyed the production. Well done! 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.