Saddle up there partners, we’re heading out on a ride back to the golden-age of musicals. A show which is as much rootin’-tootin’ fun as you’ll find on any stage in these ‘ere’ parts.
You may know the classic Oscar winning 1953 movie starring Doris Day but on stage this week at the Wales Millennium Centre is CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER who fills the boots brilliantly as CALAMITY JANE.
Every song is a cracker, none more so than the opening number, which I guarantee you’ll be singing all the way home. When you walk into the Donald Gordon Theatre the curtain is down with a lone banjo hanging on the right hand side. You could feel the buzz around the audience wondering who is coming out to play it. You won’t be disappointed, it’s a great opening.
When the curtains open, to reveal the most amazing set, it’s not long before ‘Calam‘ arrives in Deadwood while belting out that song ‘The Deadwood Stage’. Just to see everyones face light up as Carrie burst into one of the most familiar musical songs ever was a real joy.
From then on in we’re given a stampede of classic tunes, which you may not think you know, but you will, all wrapped up in a story of the wild west, with an unexpected tale of love thrown in for good measure.
First of all, let’s see what the audience thought of the opening night performance. We caught up with them at the end of the show in what was one of the longest stage door queues we’ve ever seen.
Calamity Jane is everything her name suggests, feisty, incredibly funny, with a big mouth and even bigger heart. It’s fair to say that Carrie delivers a performance worthy of Doris Day (who is one of my all time favourites). She has made Calamity Jane all her own with the occasional nod to Doris Day’s character.
It would have been way to easy to turn out a carbon copy of Calamity but thankfully that’s not the case.
The stage show itself has been around for 45 years, on and off, but this production, directed by NIKOLAI FOSTER feels incredibly fresh. From the moment you walk into the Donald Gordon theatre you’re right in the thick of it. The set by MATTHEW WRIGHT is jaw-dropping good with the saloon being the main focus throughout the show. It has it’s own stage where where the band and actors play a variety of instruments.
For the most part the setting is The Black Garter, with most of the cast and band singing and dancing their way through the story, but there are times we are taken on horse wagon rides and those moments are really funny, deliberately so I might add.
Calamity Jane is all about our titular character but there are some fine performances in this production. VINNY COYLE is the secret love interest Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel in the movie), and the chemistry between him and ‘Calam‘ builds as her heart softens.
This is however very much a company show, with everyone having space to shine, but I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the Hillbilly, Rattlesnake played by RICHARD LOCK and SAMUEL HOLMES as Francis Fryer.
In the main you will know the soundtrack with songs many might remember from a Sunday afternoon, watching the movie with your grandparents. The opening song is a classic, as is ‘Black Hills of Dakota‘and ‘Windy City‘. But the number I was most concerned about came in the second act.
Being such a fan of Doris Day, ‘Secret Love‘ is a regular on my streaming service. For those who know the song you’ve no doubt got your own interpretation of the lyrics. So, when Carrie stepped up to sing it, I was breathless for a few seconds.
I needn’t have worried. What she did with this song was breathtaking. It was powerful and awesome, no other words for it. The ‘Secret Love‘ moment is a really important part of the show when we get to see another, deeper side to Jane. Once again Carrie delivered Doris, and some.
Calamity Jane is not only filled with great songs but as you can imagine, the choreography too is very much centre stage. We are delivered routines which made you want to get up, grab your partner and Dosey Doe. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a bit of on stage tap dancing?
It is a difficult show to put on in many ways nowadays but with a little re-writing and a feisty lead character, it still works well. Judging by the reaction from last nights packed theatre, and an almost sold out Cardiff run, we can’t get enough of a good old classic, with great songs on our stage
Many have been waiting for Carrie to ride into town with this show and it is well worth the wait. Her comic timing is right on point and every song she sings is a scene-stealer. Although I also want to mention the duet with Vinny Coyle – ‘I Can Do Without You‘ is bursting with chemistry and another stand out moment of the production.
The show may be a nostalgic trip down memory lane but it remains a ‘whip-cracking‘, charm filled take on the golden days of those classic Hollywood musicals, and we loved it.
CALAMITY JANE is at the Wales Millennium Centre through to Saturday with performance at 7:30pm and a 2:30pm matinee today (Wednesday), Thursday and Saturday. As we mentioned tickets are limited for most performances nut you can check and get yours HERE.
