Calamity Jane – Mad Kids

It is a few years since I have seen a show by this youth group, but my how they have progressed. Initially the choice of this show might seem a strange one for a youth group but in reality it is a good choice. It’s construction is straight forward and the songs are relatively easy to get to grips with, and it is a short show. It also has lots of work for the ensemble and some good roles and lots of action to make the show an interesting concept for youth to get to grips with.

This production was well staged and directed by Clare Tapper, youthful herself, and who has staged most of the output by this group. It had pace, clarity and was very entertaining. The comedy came across well, and principal players produced well rounded characters and the ensemble scenes (of which there are many) were well drilled and not at all messy.

Wisely, the main roles went to the older players, many of whom were in their last year with the group. Joe Tapper as Bill Hickock had given lots of thought to his portrayal and managed to achieve the sensitiveness to this character which hides behind the masculine exterior. Lydia Goodman gave a lively performance as Calamity. She dominated her scenes and achieved the tomboy quality that is required for this role but we were never left in any doubt that she was a female with all the accompanying feelings.

The secondary love story in this show is between Katy Brown, played by Lucy Booker and Danny Gilmartin, played by Jacob Seldon. They both produced highly entertaining performances. Jacob is very good looking and it was totally believable that the women would be fighting over him. Both Jacob and Joe are very engaging performers and the fact they are moving on will be a big loss to this group.

One thing that I am never happy about with this show, and I have directed it twice myself, is the apparent instant love story between Calamity and Bill. Suddenly half way through act 2 her affections shift from Danny to Bill. Clearly this cannot have happened so suddenly, and these feelings would have been there throughout, and the bickering and fighting between the two is actually a form of them showing their affection, although they don’t realise it, therefore we have to be able to identify that there is never any hatred between the two and any fall out is not serious stuff. I think the players achieved that in this production. Another issue for me with this show is the never ending reprises of Black Hills of Dakota and the fact that this is sung on the mountain trail and the folk in all their finery are trudging through the dirt and sometimes sitting down in it. This production re-staged that number into the Fort Scully Ball, and it made much more sense (I did it myself the last time I directed the show) and I believe the latest professional revival did just the same thing.

All other roles were well played and there were no weak links at all in a company who supported each other and worked well as a team and I will not mention all, but do need to highlight one highly entertaining performance was from tiny Jonathan Cardrick as Henry Miller. He gave a very structured, well disciplined performance which was one of the best portrayals of this character I have seen from any amateur company. The fact he was the smallest principal player just made it all the more entertaining.

Scenery was first rate and well designed and painted, the band supported very well indeed and costuming from own resources and carried out on a shoestring, did the job admirably.

This show hit all the marks with the full house audience who were hugely entertained. There is a lot of talent at MAD Kids and this show celebrated that talent in a big way. Bravo !!

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