Formerly known as Maghull Amateur Operatic Society
Calamity Jane
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Performed at The Little Theatre,
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Please note the hyperlinks will take you to a photo of the cast member and where applicable, their write up in the programme Nominations Best Staging of a Musical |
Show photos one | two | three |
Calamity Jane … … … … … … … … … … Elaine Cox
Wild Bill Hickock… … … … … … … … … … Brian Brady
Katie Brown … … … … … … … … … … … Laura Makin
Lt. Danny Gilmartin … … … … … … … … Adrian Roberts
Henry Miller … … … … … … … … … … … Tony Adamson
Francis Fryer … … … … … … … … … … … Graham Heap
Adelaide Adams … … … … … … … … … Helen Illingworth
Susan Miller … … … … … … … … … … … Sarah Culshaw
Rattlesnake … … … … … … … … … … … Eric Fletcher
"Doc" Pierce … … … … … … … … … … … Danny McKillop
Joe the Bartender… … … … … … … … … Ryan Doyle
Hank … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Mark Wilson
Pete … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Peter Brennan
Colonel … … … … … … … … … … … … … David Banks
CAN CAN GIRLS
Lydia Bland, Sarah Culshaw, Rebecca Gavin
Sally Lane, Janet Rose, Kimberley Russell
TOWNSFOLK OF DEADWOOD
Thelma Adamson, Kate Allen, Fiona Allwright, Lydia Bland, Lindsey Carter,
Beccy Clarke, Gill Culshaw, Rebecca Gavin, Gaynor Hale, Betty Hall,
Sally Lane, Rita Morgan, Stephanie Mullally, Janet Rose, Kimberley Russell,
Trudi Walsh, Matt Casson, Dave Cox, Will Cain
For MMTC
Director … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Ian Culshaw
Musical Director … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Jill Hyde
Choreographer … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Gaynor Hale
Production Co-Ordinator … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Betty Hall
Rehearsal Pianist… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Kate McDonald
Stage Manager … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Andrew Connard
Stage Crew … … … … John McMullan, Ian Westall, Tony Kelly, Dave Smith
Kayley Foran, Hannah Hall
Costumes … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Charades, St. Helens
Continuity… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Joyce Perrin
Properties … … … … … … … … … … … … Laura MacDonald, Claire Bryan
Ticket Secretaries … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Dave & Elaine Cox
Front of House… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Friends of the Society
Poster & Programme Design … … … … … … … … … … … … … Elaine Cox
Publicity … … … … … … … … … … … Sally Lane, Claire Bryan, Gill Thornton
Graham Hall, Elaine Cox
Photography … … … … … … … … … … … … Dick Mobey, Rebecca Clark
FOR THE LITTLE THEATRE
Sound… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Bernie Howat
Lighting … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Tony Berry
Programme Edited by Elaine Cox
Printed by Walter Brown Printers Limited Lowton, Warrington
NODA Review
CALAMITY JANE
Maghull Musical Theatre Company Director: Ian Culshaw
Musical Director: Jill Hyde
Choreographer: Gaynor Hale
A well-balanced, lively overture under the experienced baton of Jill Hyde heralded the start to this production.
The musical accompaniment and the singing, particularly that of the chorus, was very good throughout.
The chorography was simple, effective and well executed but I could not help wondering if the choreographer could have been a bit more adventurous and stretched the company more.
Directing his first musical, Ian Culshaw had guided his principal cast in a generally solid, well-conceived production.
There were occasions when some ensemble
positioning was awkward but this did not detract from the overall production and I mention it as a learning point for the director and company.
On the opening night, which I attended, some of the dialogue, particularly that of Elaine Cox (Calamity Jane) and Brian Brady (Bill Hickock) was indistinct and difficult to hear. This was a pity as the characterisations from them, and indeed all the cast, were handled well.
Tony Adamson played the harassed Henry Miller to perfection, adding yet another sparkling performance to his list of previous credits. Graham Heap, gave us a pleasing and very affable performance as Francis Fryer.
It was good to see Laura Makin taking on a principal role after a long gap. Her Katie Brown was well played but would have benefited from a bit more feistiness, when she reveals herself as the real "Katie" at the end of Act 1. She was well partnered by Adrian Roberts as the hapless Lieutenant.
Helen Illingworth played a nice cameo as Adelaide Adams, even if her delivery was a little too "English" in a musical set in the Wild West.
The set (Prosceneium) looked good and was well handled by the stage crew. The costumes (Charades) were completely in period and extremely well co-coordinated in terms of colour. The whole show was lit to Tony Berry's customary excellent standard - a hallmark of productions staged at the little theatre in Southport. MMTC has recently celebrated its 35th Anniversary.
With the continued influx of new members joining forces with established members, the future of the society looks bright. Congratulations on your 35th birthday!
Neil Townsend