A multi-talented cast sing, dance, play musical instruments and show boundless energy in the stage version of the Doris Day film Calamity Jane.
Unfortunately Jodie Prenger over-plays the role of tomboy Calamity. The Wild West heroine is meant to dress, behave and brag like a man so that she’s not taken seriously – but at times it becomes virtually a parody.
On the plus side Jodie, the winner of BBC’s I’d Do Anything, leads the chorus in a rousing Deadwood Stage, duets amusingly with Tom Lister’s Bill Hickok in I Can Do Without You and gives a powerful rendition of Secret Love.
Calamity travels by stage coach to Chicago to recruit glamorous musical star Adelaide Adams (Christina Tedders) to entertain in Deadwood’s mining town.
But, by mistake, she brings back her maid Katie Brown, superbly played by Phoebe Street.
Katie becomes Calamity’s love rival for dishy army officer Danny Gilmartin (Alex Hammond).
Emmerdale hunk Lister provides melodic vocals, and adds a nice touch of humour to Wild Bill, while Rob Delaney excels in the role of entertainer Francis Fryer.
This Watermill Theatre Production, under the direction of Nikolai Foster, shows plenty of pace and panache.
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