Well, crack my whip and call me a calamity...what a show!
As a long time fan of a good ol’ fashioned cowboy comedy and a will-they-won’t they romance, I was excited to see what sort of plumb fancy fun had come rolling into Leeds. As someone who has somehow never seen the classic Doris Day musical, I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but with such a stellar cast and rave reviews for the first leg of the UK and Ireland Tour, I went in with high hopes – and I was not disappointed.
The show takes us back to the wagon riding, gun slinging Wild West where we meet the smart- mouthed firecracker that is Calamity Jane. When a mix up at the theatre leaves the goldrush town of Deadwood with an angry mob and no entertainment, Calamity volunteers herself as the heroine to venture over to the big city of Chicago. Her aim? To bring back world renowned performer Adelaide Adams – much to the delight of the infatuated townsmen who have only seen her photograph from their cigarette packets. A major mix-up leads to the wrong woman being brought back to Deadwood; but the whole town falls for the unexpected Katie Brown anyway. While a beautiful friendship blossoms between the two women, infatuation spreads fast throughout the small town and stubborn Calamity is forced to swallow her pride and figure out what her heart really wants.
The show is full of fun from start to finish; crowd favourite Rattlesnake (Richard Lock) does a stellar job of warming the audience up with his trusty banjo and brings us straight into the well-loved classic of an opener, 'Whip-Crack-Away'. The toe tapping musical numbers are brought to life with an incredible on-stage band sprinkled throughout the cast, making the local saloon feel like home from the get-go.
While an on-stage band is always fun, it does create some slight coordination problems during whole cast dance numbers. But it’s only noticeable if you’re really looking for it, and the
energy on stage is more than enough of a distraction; at all times it’s clear just how much fun the entire cast is having.
energy on stage is more than enough of a distraction; at all times it’s clear just how much fun the entire cast is having.
The chemistry between the cast is electric, but none more than between the stars of the show – Carrie Hope Fletcher as the outspoken Calamity, and Vinny Coyle as the cool and collected, famous Wild Bill Hickock. Never sure if they love or hate one another, the laughs and snide remarks between the two feel utterly natural, whether he’s bringing her down a peg or two, or she’s giving him a dressing down about his wanting her to get dressed up, the comradery between the two is so fun to watch. There’s also a comfortable companionship between the hilarious Samuel Homes as the anxious actor Francis Fryer and his ever-supportive Sue (Hollie Cassar) that brings even more hilarity to an already rib-tickling show.
Fletcher is an absolute spitfire – her comedic timing and high-energy performance are captivating, and her vocals are stunning, particularly in her beautiful rendition of secret love, which gave me goosebumps.
Coyle absolutely dazzles with 'Higher Than A Hawk', and the town of Deadwood sure
are lucky to have an entertainer with a voice as beautiful as Seren Sandham-Davies in the role of Katie Brown. Her quirky duet with Fletcher in ‘A Woman’s Touch’ might be just a tad dated, but it sure sounded amazing!
are lucky to have an entertainer with a voice as beautiful as Seren Sandham-Davies in the role of Katie Brown. Her quirky duet with Fletcher in ‘A Woman’s Touch’ might be just a tad dated, but it sure sounded amazing!
With such a stellar cast, classic show tunes that you can’t help but want to sing along to, and a beautiful set that feels right at home, it’s an easy to enjoy show that anyone can enjoy. The only downside is the story itself; it might be a classic, but it’s a little outdated for a modern audience.
The tale of Calamity Jane is definitely a product of its time and that’s worth noting; there’s something about seeing a woman as lesser because she doesn’t wear fancy dresses that just doesn’t sit right in 2025, but it’s harmless enough. As a fun, memorable musical it’s definitely up there, and the incredible cast make it more than worth a watch – I’m already planning on heading back to see it again later this year as it continues its UK tour into the latter half of the year.
The production is directed by Nikolai Foster, co-directed and choreographed by Nick Winston and features musical supervision by Olivier, Grammy and Tony Award winner Catherine Jayes.
Its run at Leeds Grand Theatre is only a short one, until 8th March, but you can catch Calamity’s stagecoach rolling across the UK until late September. So go on, get to booking!
Reviewer: Hazel Goodlad 6.3.2025
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