Review of Calamity Jane by Lynn Carroll

January 29, 2025

Well, who knew? Calamity Jane was a real person! Excuse my ignorance but I should have guessed I suppose, as Wild Bill Hickok was real too. My excuse is that I haven’t given her a thought since childhood when I watched the 1953 film, several times, released just fifty years after her death. She was a very colourful character and I would love to tell you more but we must get back to the show.

It was a joyful retelling of her story in true showbiz style. There were lots of other colourful characters, line type dancing and the well known songs from the film, familiar to older generations but probably not to the younger members of the audience. I am not sure whether my little grey cells betray me from time to time, but as is often the case in stage musicals, many of the songs didn’t seem to have the same lyrics and even the tune seemed slightly ‘off’ from time to time. The original lyrics of The Deadwood Stage were altered and as I sang along in my mind it left me wondering if I could truly have such a bad memory. Maybe it is something to do with copyright, but would that apply after all this time?

The Denizens of Deadwood needed a little excitement in their life so off our heroine goes to enlist the actress (loose term for her raunchy act) Adelaid Adams, well known for her big city stage shows. Unbeknown to Jane the showgirl she takes back home is Adelaid’s maid, and from that point all manner of misunderstandings ensue, including who loves who in two budding romances.

At this point I must say that I cannot pick a particular actor from the lead roles who outshone the others, and the ensemble cast as always were wonderful, even displaying their musical talent with a variety of instruments. However, I found I had a bit of a soft spot for the actor playing the part of Francis Fryer who, after his character had a bumbling start, turned out to be very talented in the song and dance routines. Vinny Coyle as Wild Bill Hickok commanded just the right degree of authority without being a threatening presence. Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jane was given the opportunity to go all out in this role and she took full advantage whilst playing this larger than life character. I had recently seen her as Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a more subdued role, but as Jane she could showcase her talents to the maximum.

This was a simple story moved along mainly with the song and dance routines and with the same setting which, with some subtle changes, turned the saloon into Jane’s cabin and even the actual Deadwood stagecoach.

I was immersed in the action on stage but on a few occasions when I came to, I realised a smile had become my default setting throughout. Why would you not smile at such a happy foot tapping show?

If you are inquisitive about Jane’s real life story you may like to know that she and Wild Bill did marry, drifted apart, she had a daughter given into the care of a married couple and she went on to marry again. However, her heart remained with Bill and after her death in 1903 she was buried next to him at a cemetery in Deadwood, 27 years after his murder.

But, don’t be fooled, the musical is uplifting and I would highly recommend you see for yourself if you can.