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Calamity Jane - Greasepaint and Stage Lights - Theatre Radio Show

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Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane
Milton Keynes Theatre (UK Tour)
Review Complete

“Calamitous fun”
29th June 2025
  
Set:
The set stayed the same the entire production, with a wooden barn theatre taking residence on the entire stage. There were multiple levels which the cast fully utilised, and the wooden beams and creaky stage all added to the charm of the Southern small town.
Plot:
Calamity Jane finds herself in hot water when she makes a tall promise to her townspeople that she will wrangle them their favourite celebrity. After taking home the wrong woman, Calamity helps Katie Brown settle into herself and become just as good a performer as the woman they mistook her for. Tensions run high with affairs of the heart, gun-exacerbated jealousy and undiscovered feelings, but all the while through a calamitous lens of utter joy and fun.
 



 
Review:
Calamity Jane at the Milton Keynes Theatre was only calamitous in the theatrical sense, I am pleased to say that the production itself was expertly done and professional in every sense. The decision to stage Calamity Jane as an Actor-Musician production fit the character of the storyline perfectly. With the cast both performing and playing their instruments at the same time, you felt completely immersed in the hoedown, Southern theme of the musical. Carrie Hope Fletcher who played Calamity Jane proved why she is one of the biggest names in the Westend, and led the rest of the company with complete proficiency. While she is multi-talented, her strong suit is definitely the knockout vocals. At times, I feel Calamity could have been acted a little bit more tomboyish, as through the trousers and the rambunctious personality her physicality and demeanor was still rather feminine. During act 2 when she had her transformation, I did not feel there was enough of a contrast. Bill Hickock (played by Vinny Coyle) was a very tough-love sort of character with an extreme wash of nonchalance, but nonetheless likeable in his own way. I did feel at times that Coyle played BILL WITH SO MUCH nonchalance that it just came across as a person forgetting he was on the stage, but this was forgiven due to his beautiful vocals that sounded completely of the time period.


 


 
Though I do not have many negatives to say about this production, one thing that absolutely confounded me was Calamity’s crush on Danny (played by Fergus Murphey). While each actor played their individual characters brilliantly, I did not get any sense of chemistry at all from either of them. I understand that Murphey was an understudy and therefore would not have had as much practice in the role, but when Calamity threw a fit having not been chosen by Danny, I found it laughable and completely unbelievable. I could even say a similar thing about Calamity and Bill, although this was on a much smaller level. Although they bounced off of one another seamlessly, I did not get any sense of chemistry between the two of them.



I know that this is to be expected as in act one they do see each other as siblings moreso, but to jump to their sudden romance without even a few subtle hints felt strange. My favourite character, who I believe outshone the rest, was Francis Fryer (played by Samuel Holmes). He was witty, camp, charming, a brilliant slap-stick artist and a very talented tapper. I wish I could watch the entire performance again just to see his rendition again. Katie Brown (played by Seren Sandham-Davies) was endearingly gauche, striking the balance between showmanship and humorousness. I thoroughly believed her romance with Danny and thought that they were wonderfully matched, and her friendship with Calamity was equally as wholesome.


 

 
I will say that I preferred the second half for its faster pacing and (in my opinion) stronger musical numbers, but I was entertained entirely from start to finish regardless. I absolutely loved the music, the production was fun and charming and easily palatable to any type of audience. I would happily see it again if given the chance.
 

 Carrie was good. Vocals are definitely her strong suit, at times I feel she could have acted a little bit more tomboyish as when she became pretty it didn’t seem like that much of a contrast.
 
Reviewer:  Mark Bilsby

Photography: Mark Senior

We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.
Greasepaint and Stage Lights

Email: musicals@btinternet.com
website: www.greasepaintandstagelights.co.uk
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