Calamity Jane - The Panto

MY first review of 2012 was another visit to the Ringwood based Poulner Players and their latest offering, which was Calamity Jane – The Panto by Limelight Scripts.

The performance was delayed by 15 minutes at the start due to an accident just outside Poulner but when the final cast member had arrived we were under way.

I have to say that this production was not for me at all. The script was below par and I felt that the size and the skill needed to deliver this type of huge production was beyond the current capabilities of the group. It seemed to me that the cast were performing just to themselves and to family members in the audience and for me this was disappointing.

There were a few positives that I can bring to the table. A huge congratulation must go to Sandra Ansell, Arlene Baldwin, Emma Rodwell and Sally Whyte, all of whom clearly put in a lot of hard work and time in creating the costumes for this production. Cast-wise there was a solid performance from June Buxton as Calamity Jane and an engaging set of performances from Peter Ansell as the Chief Talking Bull and Steffi Edwards as The Milky-Bar Kid.

The live music, directed by Matthew Ng, was good and excellently played. The music added a much-needed focus away from the script and the whole company songs were delivered, in the main, well. I would like to have seen some of the music played over the scene changes to cover them more and to try and deaden the loud noise of moving furniture from the Stage Management Team. However, the sound effects were poor and not timed into the performance well, which at times really let the cast down. I am sure that this was first night nerves and it will improve as the run goes on.

One of the songs performed was one of my favourites, Take Me Home Country Road by John Denver. I have to say I was glad to see the road and be driving home after this performance.

Calamity Jane- The Panto runs until Saturday 18^th February.