Calamity Jane at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Amanda Dando
Calamity Jane started their UK and Ireland wide tour in Aylesbury this week. Billed as the whip cracking musical, following the classic film version we all know and love from the legendary Doris Day, the stage version burst onto the stage at Aylesbury.
The Waterside is perfectly placed, with plenty of parking and a lovely place to eat and catch a pre-show drink just a few steps from the theatre. We were swiftly admitted and shown to our seats, filled with excitement to see what this would look like up on the stage.
Doris Day was a frequent screen visitor in my childhood, and I freely admit to wanting to see the show on the basis my mum had watched this film time and time again. She would have loved this musical starring the absolutely wonderful Carrie Hope Fletcher as the one and only Calamity Jane. Carrie is surely destined for superstardom, and just is Calamity Jane, she was surely born to play this role. Her voice is rich, her eyes twinkle, she looked like she loved every minute up there tonight and so she should.
The show opens and you are hooked. The staging is perfect, you honestly believe you are in the wild Wild West and are drawn into the story around Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok played by Vinny Coyle. The actors and actresses on stage are also playing a variety of orchestral instruments. The atmosphere created is quite breath taking. There really is something special about real live music created right before you and you couldn’t fail to smile and more than tap your toes. Even if you didn’t know the words, you were drawn into each and every song. The costumes are spot on and all add to charisma of the show. They really do recreate what you’d imagine to be what people wore and how they spoke, how they danced, from back in the day.
The dancing is true how down style, and makes your heart sing to watch the cast up on stage singing and dancing incredibly well, so much so, you’d love to be up there with them. This is certainly one of those shows you can’t help feeling good about, even when Calamity Jane is shooting at people. The whole cast is simply outstanding and my other half’s only grumble was it could feature more of the banjo playing. I would say it’s the music that made it, but it was the whole experience that just left you feeling good, smiling and wanting more. There were so many stand out songs, but to be honest we all came to hear The Deadwood Stage (whip crack away whip crack away) and we most surely were not disappointed. If you want all out entertainment with fantastic vocals backed by incredible musicians, with a love story and the Wild West thrown in, this is the show for you. Don’t dilly dally though, it’s only in Aylesbury until Saturday 18 January 2025.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £15 (£3.95 booking fee may apply).
Calamity Jane is at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from 14-18 January 2025, for more information or to book tickets visit www.aylesbury-theatre.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 871 7607.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG | 0844 871 7607