A dull, rainy day on Wednesday was turned into sunshine by a group of singers in Lichfield.
The clouds lifted as the band struck the first note of Lichfield Operatic Society’s production of Calamity Jane and it was warmth all the way to the final curtain.
The story of the 19th Century frontierswomen was brought to the screen in 1953, starring Doris Day and the songs have certainly stood the test of time. So much so that the audience was singing along with the Deadwood Stage and the Black Hills of Dakota.
This was a fabulous production. The audience was buzzing on the way out – a sure sign of a good show.
Georgina Jones as Calamity and Jordan Adams as Wild Bill Hickock was great casting. They complemented each other so well. It was only Georgina’s second show with LOS and, judging by this outstanding performance, it won’t be her last (we hope). Sophie Randal as Katie Brown and Dan Anketell as Lieut Danny Gilmartin was another good pairing.
One of my favourite ‘characters’ in this show is Francis Fryer, the man the townsfolk think is an actress coming to town to entertain. Patrick Jervis was brilliant in this part – he has excellent comic timing and proved a great song-and-dance man.
Craig Allen played Henry Miller in his usual fine style, winning a lot of laughs from the audience.
Production director Martin Rainsford, musical director David Easto and choreographer Frances Welch were an impressive team heading this production. The stage crews were, as usual with this company, a strong support for the cast.
A friend who had not seen Lichfield Operatic Society before said she thought they were a professional company – praise indeed and a sentiment many of us would agree with.
Thank you Lichfield Operatic for making us all feel better on a very wet Wednesday.
I look forward to their next production, Carousel, another old favourite, in October.
