Review: Calamity Jane at Hexham Queens Hall

Laughs In The Black Hills of Dakota

Calamity Jane

Hexham Queens Hall

16^th May 2015.

You wait for Calamity Jane to be staged and 2 productions come along at once. After the Calamity of the professional show earlier in the year it was the turn of the Hexham Amateur Stage Societyto stage the thigh slapping musical.

Based upon the 1953 film starring Doris Day and Howard Keel, the musical keeps the sense of place and good humour. Calamity Jane rides into Deadwood, South Dakota, full of stories of her exploits. Her friends accept that she is good at bending the truth in order to create a good tale. When the local bar owner mistakenly books male actor Francis, thinking he was booking entertainment with a female called Frances, she decides to help out. She heads to Chicago in order to persuade big star Adelaide Adams to come back to Deadwood to entertain her fans. Nothing is what it seems and Calamity brings an entertainer back to help out. 

Early signs were good as a tight eight piece band, under the musical direction of Warren Smith, started up at Queen’s Hall. As the curtain was raised the large ensemble filled the stage and raise the roof with The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away!). Kenny Toal, as Bill Hickock, and Clair Applegarth as Calamity Jane are both great singers who come across as very likeable characters. Along with Ruby Westlake as Katie Brown, they are immediately engaging and this helps the audience laugh along with the many humorous lines in the script. Special mention must go to Mike Routledge for his hilarious rendition of Hive Full of Honey.

The songs are memorable classics and delivered with zest. Under Elva Mason’s direction, the show whips along at a entertaining pace and it the two and a half hours quickly pass.

The show was full of brilliantly coloured dresses and sharp suits, loud bangs and big laughs. It was a delightfully fun show.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Preview: Calamity Jane at Darlington Civic Theatre

CALAMITY RIDES INTO TOWN

Calamity Jane

Darlington Civic Theatre

Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 May 2015

The hot-shot musical Calamity Jane is whip-cracking its way to Darlington.

Following a sell-out run at The Watermill Theatre in Newbury Calamity Jane is currently enjoying a hugely successful national UK tour starring Jodie Prenger in the title role, Tom Lister as Wild Bill Hickok, Alex Hammond as Danny Gilmartin and Phoebe Street as Katie Brown and will be blowing into Darlington Civic Theatre in May.

Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, she travels to Chicago to recruit a music hall star, Adelaide Adams, to appear on the stage of The Golden Garter saloon bar theatre in Deadwood. But things don’t go too smoothly for Calamity, 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, and realise her Secret Love.

Calamity Jane has an Oscar nominated score that includes The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from the Windy City and the award-winning song Secret Love.

JodiePrenger is probably best known for winning the role of ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s West Endproduction of Oliver! through the BBC television series I’d Do Anything. During her run in the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane she received both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role. Since then she has starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of One Man, Two Guv’nors both in the West End and on tour and as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Tom Lister most recently played Grimes and Eel in the world premiere of Water Babies at Leicester Curve. He is probably best known to TV audiences for his role as Carl King in ITV’s Emmerdale, a part he played for nine years. His theatre credits also include Pan in Love’s Mistress at the Globe Theatre and Ralph in Accrington Pals at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

You can read the Jowheretogo review from the Sunderland dates earlier in the tour: review link

Tickets

Calamity Jane is at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 May. Tickets* are priced from £22

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk 

*All ticket prices include a £1 restoration levy

Review: Calamity Jane at Sunderland Empire

Calamity Jane

Sunderland Empire

We love going to the theatre as a family and we are lucky to see, and enjoy, lots of great shows in the North East. Most of the reviews on here are indeed extremely positive as we enjoyed them. From big shows such as Singing In The Rain to much smaller shows such as Best In The World. I guess it was only going to be a matter of time that we ended up with a night like the opening night of Calamity Jane. I know reviews usually appear much quicker, on the same night usually, but this was needed a night’s reflection.

First signs were not good as the large crowd gathered in the foyer and theatre staff rushed backwards and forwards not passing on information. Elderly theatre goers were left with nowhere to sit as the advertised time for the show to start quickly approached. This is not the first time this has happened on this tour as this review shows: York Calamity Jane Review. Eventually the doors opened to the auditorium and we could take our seats, though the safety curtain was still down. Eventually an announcement is made stating technical difficulties are delaying the start still further. The recorded message about mobile phones eventually is played but seemed to be quiet. Was it the sound that was causing a delay? Finally after a quick announcement about a change to the cast the show begins.

The trouble in reading a review is that you are faced with opinion rather than fact. In my opinion the early sound levels were not balanced and not all voices could be heard clearly or with the same volume. In fact it sounded like some microphones were not in the right place in that first few minutes. The following day I read a review in the local  press that makes a direct reference to both the smooth running of opening night and the fabulous balanced sound. Both are unusual things to see in the local rag. I wonder if they were at the same show? As I say, this is my opinion and in my opinion the sound wasn’t good in row O of the stalls.

The story of Calamity Jane is light and breezy. The songs were probably great but I was struggling to decipher the lyrics through a combination of sound quality and quality of the accents. One thing which was good was the musicianship. The instruments were the one thing we could hear clearly. I also liked the fact that the recent trend of sticking the musicians on stage seems to be continuing. It is great to see instruments being played rather than stuck out of sight in a pit.

The actors were trying very hard in the show. The choreography was tight on a number of the numbers.

The show slipped into The Play That Goes Wrong territory when an attempt to lasso Calamity failed and a nearby member of the cast had to loop the rope around Calamity. Matters reached a peak when the cast seemed to be holding a pose for a long time at the end of the first half before the curtain finally came down – much to the obvious relief of some of the cast.

After sampling the £4 ice cream and comparing its size to the small £3 tubs, the second half began.  The second half was much better and the delightful story was given an opportunity to shine.

Tom Lister, as Wild Bill Hickok, and Pheobe Street, as Katie Brown, stood out as very strong players in their roles. Jodie Prenger as Calamity Jane was charming and engaging.

A member of theatre staff had told me when I discussed it with them that I should expect it as it is first night. I go to a lot of first nights and I haven’t known a night like it. He also suggested that the company had only arrived that very same day and were trying to perform and the same day as they set up.  For a show that has been on tour for as long as this it surprises me that the first night wasn’t smoother.  Chances are the shows will be better later in the run. The trouble is that I don’t have a spare £100 to find out.

Preview: Calamity Jane at Sunderland Empire

Calamity Jane

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 March 2015

Following a sell-out run at The Watermill Theatre Newbury Calamity Jane is currently embarking on a national UK tour which opened at the Plymouth Theatre Royal (Wednesday 17 September 2014). Calamity Jane is produced by Jamie Wilson, Paul Elliott and Duncan C Weldon in association with The Watermill Theatre Newbury and will play Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 March 2015.

 Calamity Jane stars Jodie Prenger in the title role of ‘Calamity Jane’, Tom Lister as ‘Wild Bill Hickok, Alex Hammond as ‘Danny’ and Phoebe Street as Katie Brown.

Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, she travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood Stage. But things don’t go too smoothly for Calamity, 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, and realise her Secret Love…

Calamity Jane has an Oscar nominated score that includes The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from the Windy City and the award-winning song Secret Love.

Jodie Prenger is probably best known for winning the role of ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of “Oliver!” through the BBC television series “I’d Do Anything”. During her run in the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane she received both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role. Since then she has starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of “One Man, Two Guvnors” both in the West End and on tour and as ‘Lady of the Lake’ in “Spamalot”. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Tom Lister most recently played ‘Grimes and Eel’ in the world premiere of “Water Babies” at Leicester Curve. He is probably best known to TV audiences for his role as ‘Carl King’ in ITV’s “Emmerdale”, a part he played for nine years. His theatre credits also include ‘Pan’ in “Loves Mistress” at the Globe Theatre and ‘Ralph’ in “Accrington Pals” at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Alex Hammond made his professional debut in the hugely successful “Taboo” at the Brixton Academy. He most recently played the role of ‘Adam Pontipee’ in the national tour of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. His other theatre credits include “Save The Last Dance For Me”.

Phoebe Street most recently appeared in “The Light Princess” at the National Theatre. Her other credits include “Les Miserables” at the Queen’s Theatre where she made her West End debut.

The rest of the company includes Anthony Dunn as ‘Henry Miller’, Sioned Saunders as ‘Susan’, Rob Delaney as ‘Francis Fryer’, Christina Tedders as ‘Adelaide Adams’, Paul Kissaun as ‘Rattlesnake’, Jon Bonner as ‘Doc’, Martin McCarthy as ‘Joe’, Matthew James Hinchliffe as ‘Buck’, Jamie Noar as ‘Hank’, Giovanna Ryan as ‘Flo’ and Justin Wilman as ‘Charlie’.

Calamity Jane is directed by Nikolai Foster, with Orchestrations and Musical Supervision by Catherine Jayes,

Choreography by Nick Winston, Set and Costume design by Matthew Wright, Lighting Design by Richard G Jones and Sound Design by Sebastian Frost.

Nikolai Foster was recently named as the new artistic director at Curve in Leicester. His most recent theatre credits include “The Witches of Eastwick”, “Annie” and the 20th Anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s “Beautiful Thing” in the West End.

Catherine Jayes was most recently musical director for the award-winning production of “Merrily We Roll Along” at both the Menier Chocolate Factory and Harold Pinter theatre in the West End. Her other credits at the Chocolate Factory include “The Color Purple” and “Road Show”. She has composed the music for “The Duchess of Malfi”, “Othello”, “The Changeling”, “Cymbeline” and “Troilus and Cressida”, all for Cheek By Jowl where she is also an associate director. Her other musical director credits include “Guys and Dolls” and “Sweet Charity” for Sheffield Crucible and “Gypsy”, “Fiddler on the Roof” and “High Society” for the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Nick Winston’s theatre credits as choreographer include “Loserville” in the West End and “Annie” and “Sweeney Todd” at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and most recently the World Premiere of “Water Babies” at Leicester Curve. Following numerous highly acclaimed productions that include “Sweeney Todd” and “Sunset Boulevard”, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury presents a new production of the classic musical “CALAMITY JANE”. Featuring a cast of multi-talented actor/musicians to create an unforgettable experience, this brand new production gets to the heart and soul of the musical.

Hedda Beeby, Artistic and Executive Director of the Watermill Newbury said…

‘It has been such an amazing Summer here at the Watermill and to have this wonderful new production of the musical Calamity Jane completely sell out has been fantastic, we could have let it play until Christmas!

All of us here wish the cast, crew and creative team the most wonderful tour of the UK and Ireland and hope the audiences at every venue take the show to their hearts, just like the audiences here have’.

Calamity Jane is adapted for the stage by Charles K. Freeman and has music by Sammy Fain with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.

On The Web

Website: www.calamityjanetheshow.com   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalamityJaneUK

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CalamityJanetheShow  

Tickets:

Tickets available in person at the Box Office from £15 or from £17.90 from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland* Premium seats also available.