(Ambassador Theatre Group & Tulchin/Bartner Productions)
The entire show takes place inside Paul Farnsworth’s stunningly designed ‘Big Top’ that magnificently sweeps into place creating an ideal setting to stage the tale of love, ambition, stardom, jealousy and heartbreak. Norman Pace is perfect as the iconic show owner, Buffalo Bill, as is William Oxborrow as Charlie Davenport, his right-hand man, as they tackle the trials and tribulations of working in show business. Kara Lane is a tour de force in her role as the show’s diva, Dolly Tate, a seemingly suitable match for Donovan’s character, while Lorna Want is adorable as her lovelorn little sister, Winnie who is desperately in love with the equally sweet, Tommy charmingly played by Yiftach Mizrahi. The star of the show is, without question, the immensely charismatic, Emma Williams in the title role. The energy on stage instantly lifts with her arrival as the illiterate, gun-wielding, tomboy who falls in love with the same man she unwittingly humiliates when she beats him in a public shooting match, resulting in a love fuelled rivalry that is settled in a rematch with an unexpected, rewritten conclusion.
Lizzie Gee’s choreography is fresh, stylistic, authentic, enchanting and beautifully executed by the wonderful ensemble, adorned in Karen Large’s truly, magnificent costumes. Director, Ian Talbot, does a superb job of redirecting an old musical and making it much more palatable for today’s audiences with notable contributions from Stephen Ridley and Dan Delange with their orchestral arrangements.
This production is breathtaking and will go down a storm in the West End and is more than deserving of a transfer. Annie Get Your Gun runs at Malvern Festival Theatre until Saturday, when Jonathan Wilkes with be replacing Jason Donovan. Absolutely go and see it!
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