Calamity Jane is not your typical musical. Having originated at the Hayes Theatre, everything about it is very much in keeping with the Hayes’ ethos of whimsical, immersive pieces. Led by Director Richard Carroll, the audience was immersed from the very first moments of the production with the cast welcoming the audience into the old-time saloon. 

The production tells of Calamity Jane, who is tasked with finding a new showgirl for the town’s signature performance after headliner Francis Fryer turns out to be a man rather than the beautiful actress that the town was promised. Calamity then seeks out Adelaide Adams, the most beautiful actress of them all before realising that she has brought back her maid instead. What follows is a tale of friendship, romance, heartbreak and passion which captures the audience as they fall into the world of Calamity.  

For this performance, Billie Palin was in the titular role (as she alternates the role with Virginia Gay), and she did a fantastic job, with her voice towards the end of the musical really shining through. She had the most beautiful and precise tone, which worked well with the folksy songs of the musical. She was ably supported by Kaya Byrne as Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin and Andrew Cutcliffe as Wild Bill Hickok, with the latter in particular displaying a gorgeous voice and hilarious acting. 

The singing of the ensemble was also top-quality with Victoria Falconer a frequent presence and Kala Gare as Katie Browne also proving to be a standout. Ryan Gonzalez was hilarious as Francis Fryer and the rest of the ensemble also supported the action on stage very well. This was a very cohesive and considered performance, and it came through very well on the night.

At times, the production felt a little repetitive and could have perhaps been more concise however, it generally flowed quite nicely. Additionally, some of the accents fluctuated a little, with some of the lead characters moving back into broad Australian accents with some regularity which disrupted the suspension of disbelief at times. However, overall, the production felt very slick with excellent acting and world-building, with little elements of audience participation to make sure that everyone continued to feel engaged. 

The staging of the production was very clever with Lauren Peter’s set design using every part of the Opera House’s Drama Studio to make the audience feel truly immersed in the saloon atmosphere while Trent Suidgeest’s lighting design ensured a bubbly and cheerful feeling for all in the room. 

Overall, this was one of the most unique and exciting theatrical experiences that we have seen in Australia this year. The cast and production team did a fantastic job of ensuring that the audience felt very much involved in the show and the quality of the singing and acting was extremely high. If you are looking for a different but extremely well-executed musical in Sydney, then look no further because this is a show that should be experienced by as many as possible. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Calamity Jane plays exclusively at the Sydney Opera House, Studio until Sunday 19 November. For more information, click here.

Photo credits: Daniel Boud