Review: Calamity Jane at The Opera House is ‘pure theatre magic’

The Deadwood stage has come rollin’ on into town, bringing with it the one-and-only Calamity Jane! The Opera House has had a Wild West makeover and is turning the rainy city of Manchester into the windy city, and it’s mighty pretty.

The show, starring the award winning west end actress Carrie Hope Fletcher as Calamity Jane, is based on the 1953 film of the same name. Set in the Wild West in the black hills of Dakota, the gun-slinging Calamity is known for her sharp shooting and even sharper tongue. She’s a rough and tumble kinda gal who doesn’t take any notice of the cowboys in town and she can certainly hold her own in a bar fight. The iconic role was played by Doris Day in the film, means Carrie has some big cowboy boots to fill!

Calamity Jane at The Opera House

In true western style the show begins with Rattlesnake, a local hillbilly drunk, playing a banjo as the curtains open and the stage, which is set up like a saloon, is revealed. Dusty wooden rafters and beams line the edge, with a wooden piano in one corner near the bar, and stairs leading up to a stage at the back. Rattlesnake is joined by more patrons playing instruments from the saloons theatre stage as Henry Miller, the owner of the bar, played by Peter Peverley, comes out in a panic. His latest star of the stage is late and it only goes downhill from here, but can Calamity save the day? The cast kick off with the toe tapping song, The Deadwood Stage (whip-Crack-Away!) and you’re immediately immersed in the nostalgic feel of the show.

After a case of mistaken identity with Henry’s star, Calamity pipes up and offers to ride to the windy city of Chicago to bring the actually famous Adelaide Adam’s to Deadwood. This is where the creativity of the theatre show outshines the old film, as Calamity hops on her ‘horse’, which is a wooden saloon chair and a carriage driver, instead of holding reigns, he has two coconut husks clacking together creating the illusion that they’re thundering through the hills on horseback. While this rustic approach may sound underwhelming, the way the cast approach it with overwhelming enthusiasm is infectious. When they return, the saloon staging stays the same, however the back of the stage now reveals a stunning backdrop of the black hills, with the stage surrounding forming an ornate looking frame. The use of the simple staging with slight changes absolutely transforms the set without the use of any fancy technology, it’s just pure theatre magic.

Vinny Cole as Wild Bill Hickok

The show stays true to the original storyline and all of the songs from the film are in the show, including I Can Do Without You and A Woman’s Touch, with some added extras like Men, where Calamity complains about men for a whole song, and Careless With The Truth, where Wild Bill Hickok (Vinny Coyle) points out her exaggerated stories of violent shoot-outs and saving presidents from bandits. Carrie’s rendition of Secret Love in the second act is absolutely beautiful and there were even some tears from the audience as she belted out the ballad.

This version of Calamity Jane breathes new life into the old western, giving it an updated feel for the stage while keeping all of the classic elements from the film. Carrie is the perfect Calamity, she pulls focus in the best way and her masculine charm feels authentic, and she can pull off the thick mid-western accent with ease. The cast is also far more diverse than in the 70 year old film, which is a joy to see and the outdated elements from the film are no where to be seen.

Tickets for Calamity Jane at the Manchester Opera House

Calamity Jane is on at the Manchester Opera House until Saturday 25th of January when it Whip-Cracks-Away!

You can get tickets by clicking here