Calamity Jane at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Natasha Wright
Calamity Jane gallops into the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield this week bringing a good old dusting of the Wild West in on its heels. This is a great quality revival of the 1953 classic and well worth the watching.
The story is that of real life Martha “Calamity Jane” Canary who really was a gun toting original feminist making herself known as a genuine threat across the American West whilst spinning a few tales which are impossible to pick out from facts all these years later, but it makes for an entertaining show and character.
Carrie Hope Fletcher swaggers around in the title role, gun toting, coach riding menace to the West. Fletcher, well known for musical theatre brings skill and a strange of reality to the character. She offers Calamity’s bluster and bravado in a way the audience can easily go along with, making it a really easy show to watch. Once you’re tuned into the accents it’s a pleasure to ride along with. Fletcher’s voice is strong and great for the role, though more clearly in the second act.
The score of Calamity Jane remains one of its charms, even if you’ve never seen the show, as we hadn’t, you’ll probably know some of the songs. This production makes the most of its toe-tapping repertoire. The show opens with the rousing “The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away),” setting the tone with its galloping rhythm and ensemble energy. It’s a number that immediately draws the audience into the dusty, chaotic world of Deadwood, and the actor-musicians bring it to life with infectious enthusiasm.
The rest of the cast is equally strong in performance, dare I say sickeningly talented. As a whole they offer dance, vocal skills, live music played on stage and fun character performances. Vinny Coyle’s Wild Bill Hickok is gruff but likeable, and his chemistry with Fletcher gives the show a vaguely predictable but delightful emotional core. Seren Sandham-Davies as Katie Brown adds another talented performance and a character we’re rootin’ for when it all comes good.
Visually, the show is a treat. The set design evokes the rustic charm of Deadwood with swinging saloon doors, wooden facades, and clever use of props to suggest everything from stagecoaches to a prairie house.
But the production doesn’t pretend to be anything more than what it is: a light-hearted, toe-tapping musical with a few heartfelt moments and a lot of charm.
The audience on opening night responded warmly, with plenty of laughter and more than a few humming and singing along to the familiar tunes. It’s not a reinvention of the musical theatre wheel, but it doesn’t need to be. Calamity Jane delivers exactly what it promises: a whip-crackin’ good time.
Rating: 5/5
Calamity Jane runs at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield from Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th June. Tickets are available at www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and at the box office on 0114 249 6000 , with prices ranging from £15 to £49.50 For a dose of Wild West nostalgia it’s worth saddling up. Yee-haw!