Calamity Jane (2009), the old rep theatre, birmingham

Well someone must have been cracking a whip behind the audience, with so many amateur societies struggling with ticket sales; it’s reassuring to see very few empty seats at the Youth Onstage’s Production of ‘Calamity Jane’.

I entered the auditorium; with the gross misconception that ‘Calamity Jane’ would be just another humdrum amateur production, with all the fluffed lines and out of step dancers that usually grace the stage. I was wrong! Never have I seen a slicker, more professional piece of theatre. 

The cast’s talents were made all the more extraordinary by virtue of their being so young. Hannah Brook (currently at Polesworth High School) gave a magnificent performance as the boisterous heroine; she captured the audience’s imagination and kept them in the palm of her hand throughout. Despite the entire cast being excellent, Matt Lambden as Francis Fryer jumped off the stage as an extremely convincing character actor. 

Deb Brook, (Head Teacher at Galley Common School) the director must be congratulated, for such a disciplined performance from her cast, there was not a word or look out of place, and that trait continued throughout the imaginative choreography by Suzy Petty. The no-nonsense can-can in act one was stunning, no concessions for age, the splits were split and that was that. 

There was not a single fault that I could find with this production, despite my valiant attempts to spot one. Visually it was astonishing, the stage was alive with the help of well-planned costumes and a set that would be the envy of many societies.
 

‘Calamity Jane’ was a triumph, and I truly cannot wait for ‘Cinderella’ in December.

By Jamie Pitts