Last night saw us at the press night of Calamity Jane at the Grand Opera House. The original Doris Day film was released – believe it or not in 1953 – 72 years ago! How can it be 72 years old?
The eponymous role in this musical comedy classic is taken by the multi-award-winning West End actress and singer Carrie Hope Fletcher who recently starred in Cinderella and Les Misérables.
The story follows the legendary frontierswoman Calamity Jane, a rough-and-tumble, no-nonsense sharpshooter who’s more comfortable in boots than in ballgowns. The plot’s simple but sweet—Calamity tries to bring a glamorous actress to her dusty little town to impress the fellas (especially one certain fella), and well, things don’t exactly go to plan. Classic mix-ups, mistaken identities, and a bit of good old romance.
The show has a wonderfully nostalgic old-school Wild West charm mixed with laugh-out-loud moments and just enough heart to make you go “ahh” at the right times.
The music is toe-tappingly fun, with tunes like “The Deadwood Stage” and the ever-iconic “Secret Love.” It’s one of those scores that’ll have you humming for days. The cast brings a ton of energy—especially the charismatic Carrie Hope Fletcher. It’s a role that needs a big personality, she owns the stage with sass and a whole lot of heart.
Another thing I loved is that the band is the cast. Yes, the actors are also the musicians, playing instruments right there on stage. It gives the whole thing a fabulous live energy, like you’ve just stumbled into the best hoedown in town. Fiddles, banjos, guitars—you name it, they’re playing it while singing, dancing, and acting their boots off.
Calamity Jane is a charming and upbeat show. Whether you’re a fan of old musicals or just looking for something fun and feel-good, Calamity Jane is well worth the ride. I’d give it four stars, but expect a five if you are a big fan of the movie!
