Tuesday, December 2, 2014

CALAMITY JANE

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Jamie Wilson Productions, Triumph Entertainment & Watermill Theatre Productions)


The touring revival of Calamity Jane is as fresh, gritty and feisty as the title character. This superb actor musician production by the innovative Watermill Theatre evokes all of the rustic, raw charm of the old Wild West. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, Calamity travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood Stage. But things dont go too smoothly for her, as everyone in town favours the new girl and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense.

Director, Nikolai Foster, more than succeeds in reworking the show making it greatly deserving of the standing ovation it received. Matthew Wright's design perfectly encapsulates the era and location, providing the perfect stage for Foster's vision as the audience is swiftly transported from scene to scene without ever leaving the timbered saloon.

Jody Prenger and Tom Lister head the immensely talented cast as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Both give show stopping performances, with Lister treating us to the most wonderful acoustic rendition of 'My Heart Is Higher Than A Hawk'. Phoebe Street is perfect as the delectable Katie Brown, the wannabe actress from Chicago, and Rob Delany, who is also the musical director, and Sioned Saunders are absolutely adorable as musical double act, Francis Fryer and Susan, their piano duet an unmissable addition.

Nick Winston's choreography is authentically vibrant and slickly executed, while accompanied by the amazing musical skills of the entire cast, some of whom play more than one instrument. The musical numbers, including The Dark Hills of Dakota and The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), are given new life and the hoe-down finale leaves it impossible not to clap and tap along as it sweeps you up into a frenzy.

This is an absolute 'must-see' show and another triumph for the Watermill Theatre who make a welcome return to Malvern Theatres, following there last show, Radio Times starring Gary Wilmot. Calamity Jane runs until Saturday. Go and treat yourself! 

5 Stars

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