'Get Your Gun' is worth seeing
Based loosely on the true story of legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her relationship with Frank Butler, Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun" is considered a musical theater classic.
Hale Centre Theatre's production, for the most part, does a fine job, but director Tamara Adams' solid cast outshines the rest of the production, which is, at times, a little inconsistent.
Most bothersome was Darrin Brooks' set design late in Act I. Annie sees herself on a Buffalo Bill Show poster — not only for the first time but billed above partner/rival Frank Butler — and most of the house can't see the poster; it's blocked by other posters.
Those other posters, inspired by real Buffalo Bill Show posters, look great, but they should never block a key piece of scenery to which every character is referring.
Watching many heads in the house bob and weave trying to see what everyone was talking about, I found myself wondering if the production staff had ever sat anywhere but the front row while watching dress rehearsals.
Perhaps I expected too much knowing what the folks at Hale can do.
More impressive was what they did in the opening number, where a knife-thrower throws knives at his assistant, popping balloons. It was done well and was fun to watch.
But it's the cast that makes this production work.
Paul Cartwright as Frank Butler in Monday night's cast had the perfect swagger, a great singing voice and looked good in his cowboy hat, too.
Debra Weed Stewart had the challenge of bringing the rough Annie to life. Though sometimes seeming more like a rag doll than a bumpkin, overall she did a good job and really grew into the character, making the transition into a more refined Annie quite nicely. Stewart has a lovely singing voice, especially on the top notes.
There was great chemistry between Frank and Annie, and their scenes together were the best of the night. I loved their shootouts, their stage kisses and Annie's sparkly eyed gazes.
Jim Dale (Buffalo Bill) and Mark Knowles (Charlie Davenport) were an entertaining duo delivering funny one-liners, and Keolani Smith, and Derek Smith did a great job as a young, new-in-love couple.
The whole cast was enjoyable but underused. Marilyn May Montgomery's choreography didn't seem very inspired, having the cast often just standing in groups waving their arms in unison. They were great dancers, they just weren't able to show that off.
Hale's production shines in the costumes by Suzanne Carling and Jolene Ashcraft.
All in all it's a fun show, and the delightful cast make this a piece of musical theater worth seeing.
Sensitivity Rating: A few minor racial slurs toward Americans Indians for comedic effect, sexual innuendo.
E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com
Recent comments
First, this is a comments section on a newspaper website, not a message...
Shelby | April 17, 2008 at 4:37 p.m.
Shelby, seeing as Erica Hansen has a job as a professional writer...
Anonymous | April 17, 2008 at 2:55 p.m.
I agree Cranston. I've not always been completely supportive...
Shelby | April 17, 2008 at 9:14 a.m.
