She’s not exactly lyin’, but she’s careless with the truth! Yes that’s Calamity Jane all right. Forever spinning stories to make her the biggest hero in town (according to her). Her fearless, masculine and gun slinging ways, keep her in trouble with the locals, but they finally start believing in her when she brings to town the beautiful Adelaid Adams all the way fromthe Windy City itself, Chicago. Though all is not what it seems. Some unexpected relationships blossom and unusually for a musical, not one person dies during this show!
You might be sat thinking you recognise the title and you would be correct as in 1953 the icon of that era, Doris Day, brought the story and much loved songs to our screens.
If you still aren’t sure then let me tell you some of the well loved songs that you will struggle not to want to hum along to. The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away) is the one that instantly throws you in to the western ways, whilst The Black Hills Of Dakota take you back to the chilled and roaming ways of the west.
Of course another highlight is the Oscar winning song Secret Love, which is beautifully sung by the multi award winning Carrie Hope Fletcher as she warms the audiences’ hearts with her portrayal of Calamity Jane herself.
Though Fletcher is not the only experienced actor in this cast. In fact the back catalogue of performances both on stage and on screen for all of these cast members is huge and you can really see their experience shine through to brighten this rather traditionally and simply staged show.
My favourite parts have to be the mens’ hoedown choreographed by Nick Winston, which is reprised in the encore at the end. Some seriously great moves in that routineperformed especially well by Wild Bill Hickock aka Vinny Coyle . Then the little bits of humour sprinkled throughout especially from Samuel Holmes whilst playing Francis Fryer.
The love scene with Jane and her chosen man (No I won’t say who just incase you haven’t seen the movie or show yet) is a contrasting quiet and calm scene that draws you in deeply, so that’s definitely one to look forward to.
If you want to be charmed by the big mouthed beauty herself or if you want to see how slinging insults can lead somewhere unexpected, then you need to book tickets to see Calamity Jane right now at the Wales Millennium Centre.
Calamity Jane is here until March the 15th.
Tickets available via Wales Millennium centre box office
