Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane is, like ‘7 Brides for 7 Brothers’, an American musical first presented as a very popular Hollywood movie, later to be successfully adapted for the stage. This AMTG production demonstrated how well the lively musical works in live performance.

This production was in a pleasant school theatre in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire , with an audience capacity of 200. The stage has limited space, particularly with an on-stage band, but in this production never looked over-full.

Production and choreography were in the capable hands of Nic Conn whose directorial experience was evident from the well managed and continuous action, coping well with the size of cast and small stage. Individual characterisations and relationships were nicely drawn, and the lively dancing numbers well-executed.

Musical direction, under Catherine Matthews, was also accomplished, with nice balancing of voices and chorus harmonies. The band of about 10 players was good, their performance of the rousing overture setting the show off to a strong start with simultaneous activity taking place on stage.

Costumes were attractive and appropriate in terms both of character and the period; the Can-Can dancers’ costumes very attractive in their lively ‘Golden Garter’ routine. Calamity Jane’s Act One costume was extremely effective, as was, in Act Two, her authentic ‘underwear’ when an enraged Calamity abandons her feminine attire.

The front part of the auditorium's floor area was used to good effect as an extension of the stage and several entrances were made through the audience, making this an almost ‘immersive’ production. Sets were relatively simple but perfectly clear in depicting, without dominating, the scenes. Most of the production took place in Deadwood’s Golden Garter saloon, with part of Act Two set in the female characters’ homely cabin.

Scene shifting took place quickly and quietly, mostly by members of the cast. Scenery included some back projection, the ‘Black Hills of Dakota’ picture in particular adding atmosphere during that popular song.

On the technical side, lighting was very effective including some ‘follow spots’. Sound also was well controlled. At the very beginning the band seemed over-loud, possibly still at overture-level, slightly overpowering the opening ‘Deadwood Stage’ chorus, but it soon corrected and remained well-balanced for the entirety of the production. Individual characters’ sound was well controlled and the gunshot effects finely synchronised.

The Cast

From her exuberant entrance Mia Thomas, in the role of Calamity Jane, was excellent. She looked, acted and sang just as the part required and added a personal enthusiasm which energised the production. A top-quality performance. Mia demonstrated an agility of movement and a lively rendering of the well-known songs, including the gentle and lovely ‘Secret Love’.

Mia was well partnered by Menna Harley- Davis, in the role of Katie Brown. Menna gave a contrasting and strong performance individually and as a supportive character to Calamity. Menna’s role as the love interest of both leading men (while trying to remain faithful to her friend ‘Calam’) was well acted, attractively presented and pleasingly sung.

Society Chairman Tom Coleman played the Wild Bill Hickock role not, as is sometimes the case, as a heartless gambler but as a tolerant character whose softer and humorous side showed from the start. A stabilising balance to the lively Calamity. Tom’s strong voice showed to its best in his lovely ‘Higher than a Hawk’, attractively sung and accompanied by a solo guitarist cleverly framed as a picture in the Act Two cabin.

Jed Smyth-Osborne played the role of Danny Gilmartin as a worldly cavalry soldier rather than the stereotypical ‘romantic male’, a characterisation likely to appeal to the outwardly unfeminine Calamity. Jed sang supportively in Danny’s attractive ‘Love you Dearly’ duet with Katie Brown.

Experienced  AMTG performer Karen Jamieson gave a consistently assured and comedic performance as Madame Miller, the perpetually anxious proprietor of the Golden Garter saloon. As her daughter, Susan Miller, Pip Gibson acted nicely, delivering her lines well and establishing a nice partnership with the main comedy character Frances Fryer, played by Ian Wilkinson, acting and looking every bit the travelling music hall entertainer. Ian's performance of ‘Hive full of Honey’ was hilariously grotesque in his amusing masquerading of the singing star Adelaide Adams.

The cameo role of Adelaide Adams, the popular cigarette card pinup and well-known singer, was convincingly portrayed by Paige Ayers-Jardine with a nice rendition of the character’s theme-song ‘It’s Harry I’m Going to Marry’.

The production benefited from some strong supporting characters: Barman Joe (Tom Longland) whose dancing and singing skills were prominent,  an amusingly exasperated Doc Pierce (Kate Gibson), Rattlesnake (Steven Cox), Hank (Ryan Coleman), Pete (Warren Harrison), and the Colonel and his wife (Chris Head & Debbie Freeman), together with a strong supporting chorus.

 

An enjoyable production, with some excellent performances, enjoyed by a capacity audience. We appreciated the Chairman finding time to meet us for an after-show chat. Thankyou, AMTG, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this production of Calamity Jane, and we look forward to your next production Made in Dagenham in February 2027.

 

Colin Blackler

Noda                                                                                                                                                   February 2026=

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