Date: Fri 27-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLK

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Calamity-Jane-Cabaret-theatre

Full Text:

(rev "Calamity Jane" @Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 12/27/96)

Theatre Review-

This Is What Drove The West Wild!

(with photo)

By Julie Stern

BRIDGEPORT - Back in 1953 Warner Bros. produced one of its Doris Day-Howard

Keel Americana musicals. It was set in the Black Hills of the Dakota

territory, and centered on the rocky romance between the decidedly unfeminine

frontier heroine, "Calamity" Jane Canary, and the gunslinging marshal, Wild

Bill Hickcock. The film is not a hot item at Blockbusters, nor is it a

favorite of old movie buffs, but it did win an Oscar for Best Song, for Day's

rendition of "(Once I Had a) Secret Love."

Now Bridgeport's Downtown Cabaret has turned Calamity Jane into a stage

musical that pays homage to the movie. Tech director David Ullman has even

managed to re-create the oval window that used to appear on screen above the

opening credits, in this case giving the audience a closeup of a lurching

stagecoach, pulled by runaway horses, as its first introduction to the

exploits of the indomitable Calamity.

When the entire male population of Deadwood - chiefly prospectors and cavalry

scouts - becomes enamored of the Chicago vaudeville actress Adelaide Adams

(based on her picture on their cigarette cards) Calamity heads for the big

city to bring Adelaide back to perform at Deadwood's own Golden Garter Hotel

and Saloon.

Unfortunately Adelaide has just taken off for Europe, but Calamity persuades

her wardrobe maid, Katie Brown (who has always dreamed of going on stage), to

come back and pretend to be the great star and, well, take it from there...

As always, the best part of the production is the uniformly high quality of

the talent involved. The dancing, under the guidance of director-choreographer

Richard Sabellico, is spirited and positively delightful, and there is a lot

of it. On a small stage it is far more exciting than on a movie screen. First

as lovesick prospectors, then as cavalry officers at the army ball, the mix of

manly costumes and virile energy is as appealing as the Martha Graham

farmer-cowboy square dances from Oklahoma!

Stephanie Douglas belts out "Secret Love" as effectively as Doris ever did,

and Ken Parks makes a stalwart Marshall Hickock. As Katie Brown and the

gallant cavalry lieutenant, Danny Gilmartin, Jeanne Montano and Don Stephenson

round out the quartet of mismatched lovers.

Jody Maderas as an actor from the East is extremely good, especially in a bit

where he glides across the state strewing flower petals in the final wedding

scene.

Cheryl Dewardener's scenic design is bright and effective, and there are some

particularly clever sight gags during a scene in which Calamity's ramshackle

cabin is enhanced by "A Woman's Touch" when Katie moves in to share it.

Finally, I don't know whether the song "Dear Hearts and Gentle People (Who

Live in My Home Town)" actually comes from the movie - if it does, then that

should have won the Oscar - but it certainly is the best number in this show,

and when it came as an all-company reprise at the end of the performance, the

audience was clapping and stomping so hard they didn't want to leave.

Calamity Jane continues at Downtown Cabaret until February 2. Call 335-7489

for showtime and ticket information.