Whip crack-away! It’s possible there may never be another show quite like you in design.
When you describe yourself as being an ‘immersive frontier adventure’ you’re not wrong. Your unruly cast of characters are off the stage more often than they’re on – a genius move by Director Richard Carroll (who has brought the show back eight years after he directed it at the Hayes Theatre). Because really, so much of the action in this classic story from the American West takes place in a bar, that it makes perfect sense to turn your theatre into the Golden Garter Saloon, and your audience into heckling, gee-ed up patrons.
We’re also much obliged to have a table to put our drinks on for once.
Yes, Calamity, you follow the storyline from the movie closely, that is: Calamity Jane, the legendary frontierswoman from Deadwood, Dakota, in the 1870s, promises to bring Adelaide Adams, a famous actress from ‘Chicagy’, to perform in Deadwood’s saloon. But chaos ensues when she mistakenly brings back Adelaide’s maid, who dreams of becoming a singer.
Avid fans of the classic 1953 Doris Day film should know this though: You are not a show that takes itself seriously. In fact, you’ll take any opportunity to parody your source material, with hammed-up innuendos aplenty. (Though never so much as to be disrespectful – which is important given your target audience).
You treat us to all the songs we know and love, including The Deadwood Stage, My Secret Love, and a beautifully harmonious version of The Black Hills of Dakota. But you also include a bunch of extras too. Songs like Ev’ryone Complains About the Weather and Love You Dearly fit so seamlessly into both your storyline and existing setlist, it feels like you might have secretly pulled them from some extended version of the film.
For the most part, these are accompanied soley by a piano helmed by Nigel Ubrihien – often in the style of saloon honky-tonk, in keeping with the vibe. Occasionally though, there’s the odd banjolele, accordion, glass bottle, or (our personal favourite), the saw. Seriously – did anyone know a saw could sound like that?
Your cast list is small, but these boisterous performers keep the action unfolding dynamically, constantly, and with much improv – popping up with their boots and buckskins all over the saloon. In any other show, we might tire of all this audience interaction, but your actors (all eight of them) have enough heart and humor to pull it off. And the ability to keep a straight face while doing so.
Billie Palin is a delight as the alternate Calamity Jane (understudying Virginia Gay in the titular role). She brings a barrel-load of energy, and a beautiful vulnerability to this rebellious heroine. While it must be a daunting task to follow in the footsteps of other Calamities (of both the Day and Gay ilk), Palin measures right up – bringing a rough and ‘down to earth’ edge to the role that, let’s be honest, is probably a tad closer to the real Martha ‘Calamity’ Jane of the mid 1800s Missouri.
Ryan Gonzalez is absolutely everything we could have wanted in the role of misunderstood actor, Francis Fryer – with Hive Full of Honey being one of the greatest highlights of the show. Kala Gare also delivers a standout performance as Katie Brown, particularly in her transformation from meek maid to glamorous actre’ss in Keep it Under Your Hat.
Andrew Cutcliffe and Kaya Byrne, as Wild Bill Hickok and Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin respectively, are formidable leading men – though we would have loved to hear even more of the expansive voice that Cutcliffe has toned down for this production. (Because ya gotta know we’re all mad Howard Keel fans here!).
Rounding out your cast of versatile actor-comedians are the quick-witted Victoria Falconer (Susan / Adelaide Adams) and Phillip Lowe (Henry Miller) who muster even more laughs into what’s already a gag-a-minute rodeo.
Aw shucks, Calamity Jane, by the end of your show we’re all happy as cowpokes at a hoedown – with a weird feeling like we’ve spent the past 2 hours with friends instead of at the theatre. And that’s just how it should be, because it might be awhile until our next opportunity to be part of such a sharp-shooting, bar-brawling, rip-roaring, and utterly charming adventure. This sure is the Wild West here, partner!
With love,
Calamity Jane is showing at the Sydney Opera House until 19 November 2025. Photos by Daniel Boud.