Calamity Jane at the Palace Theatre Manchester Review
Calamity Jane
Palace Theatre, Manchester
24-28 March 2015
www.atgtickets.com/palacetheatre
Reviewed by Kate Cantlie
The production of Calamity Jane has finally arrived at the Palace Theatre in Manchester for a whistle-stop 5 nights on stage. The Palace Theatre is one of my all time favourites, it’s easy to navigate, clean and comfortable in such a sense that you don’t feel like you’re sat on your companion’s knee, as can sometimes be the case. There isn’t really a bad seat at the Manchester Palace Theatre, some views are better than others, but all levels and positions give good vantage to the majority of productions and the stalls seating does not disappoint. The production itself is loosely based on Calamity Jane and set in the late 19th century in the small American town of Deadwood. The majority of the production is set in the towns bar where the evening’s entertainment for the town’s gentlemen is performed.
Calamity Jane promises a big act from Chicago to appear on the small town stage and unwittingly brings back her maid. Despite the error, the leading men in this production both fall for the beautiful actress before Calamity tries to drive her away. The production itself was energetic and delightful to watch, the thigh slappingly good show was packed with familiar numbers that were once sang by Doris Day, it was difficult not to join right in, particularly with ‘The Black Hills of Dakota’. Jodie Prenger stars as Calamity Jane and couldn’t have been more fitting for the role, as she stole the show up until the intermission; after which the cast grew in their roles as the production got into full swing and the whole show seemed to come together.
I had wondered how the travelling scenes would work on stage, however theatrical and comedy genius were implemented and these parts were portrayed well with some energetic giggling and well placed chairs. It’s expected that Jodie Prenger and the very handsome Tom Lister would perform well and they did, despite a long bicycle ride from Wimbledon in order to raise money in aid of human trafficking, a tremendous effort, with the added bonus of keeping the cast looking yummy in their costumes. Particularly worthy of a mention is Bobby Delany, who’s performance as Francis Fryer was very entertaining and perfectly executed.
The leading lady Jodie Prenger does not only execute the songs perfectly, but is very comical throughout and effortlessly interjects perfect tone and facial expressions to emphasise distaste, an excellent leading lady, with a whip cracking performance. As for northern boy Tom Lister, he has transitioned effortlessly onto stage following Emmerdale and cuts a fine Bill Hickok in this production with a beautiful voice. The cast as a whole sweep the audience along with them as the musical progresses, giving way to an extremely satisfactory evening before I swept out of Manchester’s windy city home again.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £20.40 to £47.40 (plus £4 transaction fee).
Calamity Jane is at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until 28 March 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 3019.
Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FT | 0844 871 3019
