Calamity Jane

The spirit of the American frontier came roaring into Milton Keynes Theatre last night as Calamity Jane burst onto the stage in a riot of music, mischief and whip-smart energy. This thrilling revival of the Watermill Theatre’s hit production is everything you could want from a classic musical – bold, funny, heartfelt, and packed with toe-tapping tunes.

Carrie Hope Fletcher is a triumph in the title role. She brings fearless energy, comic flair and a gutsy vulnerability to the no-nonsense, gun-slinging Calamity. Whether charging across the stage in a chaotic flurry or softening during the tender Secret Love, her performance is as multi-layered as it is compelling. It’s a role that demands both vocal power and stamina, and Fletcher delivers in spades.

Wild Bill Hickok, played with flair and swagger by Vinny Cole, makes a fantastic foil. He oozes confidence and dry wit, and his scenes with Calamity crackle with tension and charm. Their evolving relationship is handled with a lovely balance of humour and heart.

At last night’s performance, the role of Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin was played by understudy Fergus Murphy – and he was superb. Charismatic and assured, Murphy delivered a warm, earnest performance and held his own alongside the seasoned cast, winning the audience over effortlessly.

Seren Sandham-Davies gave a delightful turn as Katie Brown, the bashful saloon singer turned star, with a clear, lovely vocal and bags of charm. Samuel Holmes was a comedic joy as Francis Fryer – his drag performance disaster was a highlight that had the audience roaring – and Peter Peverley’s Henry Miller brought gruff humour and theatrical frustration in equal measure.

A major strength of this production is the live on-stage musicianship. The cast double up as the band, seamlessly weaving between instruments, dialogue and choreography. From fiddle solos to banjo strums, it’s a feast of musical talent that brings a thrilling immediacy to the performance.

The set design cleverly transforms the stage into a Western saloon-style theatre, with wooden galleries, swinging doors and whiskey barrels galore. Particularly inventive is the use of a “stage on the stage” – a raised platform at the back becomes the performance space for the saloon show scenes within the musical, adding a delightful layer of playfulness and theatricality.

There are plenty of whip cracks, gunshots and comedic calamities along the way, but there’s also real warmth in the storytelling. Songs like The Deadwood Stage, Windy City and The Black Hills of Dakota are given joyful, full-blooded renditions, and by the time the hoedown finale arrives, the whole theatre is on its feet, clapping along and grinning ear to ear.

With inventive staging, a multi-talented cast, and a lead performance full of fire and heart, Calamity Jane is a rollicking, rootin’-tootin’ triumph. Don’t miss it – this is one ride you’ll want to be on!