Music by Sammy Fain. Lyrics by Paul
Francis Webster.
Director: Richard Carroll. Musical
Director: Nigel Ubrihien.
Choreographer: Cameron Mitchell.
Designer: Lauren Peters.
Lighting Design: Trent Suidgeest.
Presented by One Eyed Productions in
association with Neglected Musicals and Hayes Theatre Company.
Hayes Theatre, Potts Point until April
9.
Reviewed by Bill Stephens.
“Calamity
Jane” originated as a film vehicle for Doris Day in 1953. In 1961 it was
adapted for the stage, and although it has never received a Broadway production
the stage version has been popular with amateur companies throughout Australia.
This production at The Hayes Theatre is the first time it has been produced
professionally in Australia, and true to Hayes Theatre tradition this current
season has been a sell-out.
 |
| Tony Taylor, Virginia Gay, Sheridan Harbridge |
It’s not
hard to see why, even taking into account The Hayes Theatre’s very limited
audience capacity. Richard Carroll’s ingenious;
theatre-restaurant style concept sees the tiny Hayes Theatre converted into a
down-at-heel western musical hall. Audience members are admitted by the
side-door instead of the usual entrance. On entry they’re greeted by Tony
Taylor in the guise of the jovial, though somewhat irascible, proprietor of the
Golden Garter Saloon, and other cast members setting up a party atmosphere.
Seven
accomplished actors play all the roles, with hard working musical director,
Nigel Ubrihien occasionally joining in, providing the musical accompaniment
from a small upright piano, with the actors playing other instruments as
required by Ubrihien’s clever arrangements, including a tuba, ukulele and
guitar. The score contains at least three memorable songs in “My Secret Love”,
“The Black Hills of Dakota”, and “The Deadwood Stage” and all are well sung by
the cast.
On-stage
audience members are co-opted as required to help move props, set tables, or
deliver lines. It works a treat, mainly due to Carroll’s witty, inventive
direction, and a superb cast headed by Virginia Gay whose knock-out performance
as Calamity Jane, provides the production with its heartbeat.
Sheridan
Harbridge is terrific in the dual roles of Susan, the resident soubrette at the
Golden Garter Saloon, and the hard-boiled music hall star, Adelaide Adams. Rob
Johnson gives her a run for her money, in the bad acts department, playing the
unfortunate Francis Fryer, booked to entertain at The Golden Garter Saloon in
mistake for beautiful actress Frances Fryer.
 |
| Sheridan Harbridge, Virginia Gay, Laura Bunting |
When Fryer
is unmasked, Calamity Jane sets off for Windy City to book another headliner,
Adelaide Adams, but meets up with Katie Brown, (Laura Bunting) who convinces
her that she is really Adelaide Adams and returns to Deadwood with Calamity. No
prizes for guessing that Katie too is unmasked, but by then has been befriended
by Calamity, who helps her set up house.
Soon both friends
are competing for the affections of town hunk, Lt. Danny Gilmartin, (Matthew
Pearce) and when Calamity discovers Gilmartin kissing Katie she goes ballistic.
Gay’s performance in this scene is astonishing, lifting the production out of
realm of theatre –restaurant into real drama. Wild Bill Hickok (Anthony Gooley)
defuses the situation by proposing to Calamity and predictably, all live
happily ever after, following a wedding scene guaranteed to send the audience
home chuckling.
Lauren
Peters knock-about set and costumes work well in the tiny Hayes theatre, as
do the un-miked vocals for an entertainment-packed production which if picked
up by some enterprising venue-owner, could probably run for years.
This review also appears in Australian Arts Review.
www.artsreview.com.au