Calamity Jane
Louise Gold starred in the title role, as Calamity
Jane herself, at Leicester Haymarket 22 November 1994 - 28 January 1995
As a musical Calamity Jane started out as a film, but
hasn’t often been scene as a professional stage show, this productions leading
lady summed it up by saying:
“The film is a classic, but on stage it’s
different. There’s more dance, more songs, great costumes and that special
magic that only comes on stage. It’s music and comedy and fun, but there’s also
that tough real life element in the story.” Louise Gold to Liz Gilbey,
THE LEICESTER MERCURY, Friday 18 November 1994, THE WEEK section, p10.
Cast
Calamity Jane - Louise Gold
Wild Bill Hickock - Ricco Ross
Katie Brown - Liz Izen
Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin - Hal Fowler
Henry Miller - James Head
Rattlesnake - Alan Mosley
Francis Fryer - James Duke
Peter - Alan Mosley
Hank - Phillip Alden
Other parts played by:
Phillip Alden, Ralph Anderson, Graeme
Conway, Matthew Finch, Richard Laing, Stuart McLeod, Paul
Nield, Greg Pichery, Graham Soutar, Cressida Carre, Nicole
Carty, Lisa Davies, Angela Haydock, Catherine Hoskins,
Jill-Louise Hydes & Marcia Tricker.
Production Team
Adapted for the stage by - Charles K Freeman
from a screenplay by - James O'Hanlon (Warner Brothers)
Music - Sammy Fain
Lyrics - Paul Francis Webster
Orchestral & Vocal arrangements - Philip J Lang
Director - Paul Kerryson
Décor - Paul Farnsworth
Lighting - Chris Ellis
Sound - Frank Bradley
Choreography - David Needham
Musical Director - Julian Kelly
The shows designer Paul Farnsworth is usually
better known for his work for The New Shakespeare Company at Regents Part Open
Air Theatre, where among other shows he has been involved with: A
Midsummer Night's Dream and Kiss Me Kate. On both those occasions,
and quite possibly this one two, he managed to make his programme sketch
drawing of Louise's character look uncannily like the actress herself.
It has been noted that Louise Gold delayed a
stint of puppeteering on Sesame Street,
so as to appear in this production of Calamity Jane.
One could say that during this production Louise
Gold came of age as a professional stage actress, as it is quite likely
that one of her performances in this show took place exactly 21 years to the
day of her professional stage debut in Dick
Whittington.
Louise Gold, and Alan Mosely
had previously appeared at The Leicester Haymarket in Merrily We Roll Along (Stage Production). and on that
cast’s Merrily We Roll Along
(Recording)
Julian Kelly’s conducting can be heard
on Simply Musicals, The Great Musicals - Wonderful Tales, and, The Great Musicals – Dashing Heroes,
Blushing Maidens.
Louise Gold, and, Stuart McLeod
had previously appeared together in Anything
Goes, one of Louise’s other starring musical roles.
Paul Kerryson went on to direct Louise
Gold in Follies which also had musical direction
by Julian Kelly, design by Paul Farnsworth, choreography by David
Needham and Greg Pitchery was the choreographer’s assistant.
Hal Fowler’s recording credits
include Encore The Very
Best From The Musicals.
Critics Comments
"Full marks to Louise Gold in
the title role and Ricco Ross as Wild Bill Hickock. Their playing of the
central characters is more than enough to dispel any memories of Doris Day and
Howard Keel." "From the aspect of songs it's a woman's musical, not
only is there Gold as the larger than life Calamity but also Liz Izen as Katie
Brown, giving audiences full value for their money." Quentin Clark, THE STAGE
"Louise just blazed through
it, demolishing everyone else in it! The audience adored her." Peter
Gannaway, WORDS AND MUSIC
“As
the tough tender-hearted tomboy, Louise Gold is strong and charismatic enough
to avoid comparison with Doris Day.” Liz Gilbey, THE LEICESTER MERCURY,
Wednesday 23 November 1994, p41
Links about Calamity
Jane
Muppet Central/Tibby's Bowl Interview with Louise Gold http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/gold.shtml
James Head's website: http://www.jameshead.freeserve.co.uk/g4.html Photograph of
James Head and another male cast member.
Hal Fowler’s
Official website: http://www.halfowler.co.uk/web/cjbio.html section on
Calamity Jane.
