Calamity Jane
Information
- Date
- 15th May 2015
- Society
- Hexham Amateur Stage Society
- Venue
- The Queen’s Hall, Hexham
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Elva Mason
- Musical Director
- Warren Smith
- Choreographer
- Elva Mason
With very familiar and popular songs and a couple of intertwined love stories, Calamity Jane is a firm audience favourite. The Friday night Hexham audience was hooked from the first note, indulging in a little singing which, hopefully did not cross the footlights to put the performers off. It did not seem as though it did.
Set not very far into the Wild West (Chicago is the nearest city) this is the tale of tomboy and teller-of-tall-tales, “Calam”, who spends much of her time trying to impress Wild Bill Hickock but really holds a candle for cavalry officer, Danny Gilmartin. Neither of the men seem to have actually noticed she’s a girl. When one of her boasts leads Calam off to Chicargy to bring a famous showgirl back to perform in Deadwood’s saloon she, of course, brings the maid, by mistake. So we now have two girls and two boys in the romantic mix.
Director, Elva Mason, has only recently been elevated from Associate Director to Director. She showed, however, that experience in the second chair has rubbed off, producing a most entertaining show. Just one slightly nagging comment. There were times when the chorus could have stood in smaller groups, interacting with each other, rather than being strung out across the stage. The principals all capably interpreted their parts, the action flowed well, the pace of the show never flagged.
Musical interpretation was solid, with the usual good sound balance between pit and performers. MD Warren Smith and his eight piece orchestra provided reliable support for the company. Elva Mason’s own choreography was well performed and suited the saloon environment. The ensemble pieces, featuring the full chorus, were well performed and sung.
Hexham benefitted from a talented group of principals. Clair Applegarth, as Calam, provided an amusing and sympathetic leading “lady”. I was not too keen on ‘Secret Love’ being sung in her underwear, but that’s probably just me! Kenny Toal made an effective foil for her, as Bill Hickock. Ruby Westlake, as Katie Brown, was an attractive and empathetic friend who becomes “the other woman” in Calam’s desires for Danny; and Michael Skoyles made a smart, believable Danny. Katie and Danny’s duet on Love You Dearly was a favourite moment, and mention must be made of Mike Routledge who was a hoot as Francis Fryer.
The stage at the Queen’s Hall is not small but modest in size, and the scenery from Border Studios fitted well and was effective, any scene changes running smoothly. Costumes provided by Alan Graham looked accurate to time and place and, where required, were bright and colourful. Wild Bill could, perhaps have been a little tidier on occasion but Howard Keel, in the original movie, did raise the bar quite high. So, Hexham Amateur Stage Society, once again, presented a most enjoyable evening at the Queen’s Hall with a happy audience which offered enthusiastic vocal support from time to time.
© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.