Annie Get Your Gun at the New Theatre, Oxford Review
Annie Get Your Gun
New Theatre, Oxford
24–28 June 2014
Reviewed by Helen Jiggins
It is worth going to see a show more than once, the first time I saw Annie Get Your Gun in Manchester in was at the beginning of their tour (see review here), this time the production was much tighter, the actors more confident in their roles and the show, overall, brighter and smoother. Based on the original book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields albeit much revised since (this version was based on the 1999 rewriting by Peter Stone), with the addition of music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, the show stars Emma Williams as Annie Oakley, Jason Donovan as Frank Butler and Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill.
The musical numbers are spectacular in every sense of the word, Berlin’s music and lyrics are the real stars of this performance and they lift the show immensely. The show opens with a seven-minute rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” with all of the cast (except Annie, who is introduced later) on stage and in splendid form. Williams, as Annie, when she does appear, is an excellent all-round actress – her voice, dance and acting skills were all exemplary. Donovan plays the male lead as a sharp shooter in Buffalo Bill’s travelling troupe and was most improved since my last viewing of the show. In fairness, he had just finished a long run of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert when I last saw him and he looked exhausted and this was evident in his performance. All I can say is that he must have rested since, because he certainly kept his end up this time! If anyone seemed a little less enthused it was Pace as Buffalo Bill, who still tended to speak his lines into the wings on occasion, but nevertheless gave a strong performance.
Overall, the cast seemed to work much better as a whole and gave a solid show performance. The evening was pleasant and enjoyable, especially in the lovely Oxford New Theatre surroundings with its 30s decor and grand stage. The staff were exceptionally polite as always and even walked among the audience reassuringly when there was a minor technical difficulty after the interval. And so on with the show!
Rating: 4.5/5
Tickets cost from £12.90 to £46.40 (plus £4 transaction fee).
Annie Get Your Gun is at the New Theatre, Oxford until 28 June 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 3020.
New Theatre Oxford, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG | 0844 871 3020
