Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane Rehearsals All Set
Now that the New Year has turned over, thoughts of all things musical spring to mind.
And, the great news is that Thurles Musical Society will commence rehearsals for the forthcoming Calamity Jane on Thursday January 12th in the Anner Hotel.
The wonderfully entertaining musical with music by Sammy Fain ,lyrics by Paul Francis Webster and adaptation by Phil Park and Ronald Hanmer, has been a very popular show indeed. It went down very well with audiences in Thurles when it was staged back in 1970 and while The Tipperary Star of the time described it as being "an outstanding success", all indications are that the 2012 version will be very different, even if the show remains more or less the same with great comedy, some lovely musical numbers and plenty for all the family to take home.
The show centres around Deadwood City's two most famous peace officers, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock, who get involved in saving the neck of Henry Miller, the local saloon operator. It seems that "Millie" has been promoting a beautiful actress named Frances Fryer, but Frances turns out to be a boy, Francis. Millie's attempt to cover up is soon unmasked by the angry miners, and only Calamity can cool the crowd with her trusty pistols.
To keep the peace, Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miner's real heart-throb, Adelaide Adams. In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide's maid, Katie Brown, for the actress and hauls her back to Deadwood. Onstage Katie is greeted warmly, but breaks down and confesses that she is not the famous star. Calamity once more has to restore order and persuades the audience to give Katie a chance. They do, and she wins the heart of every male in town including Calamity's dashing love hope, Lt. Danny Gilmartin. Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny and discovers her true love for Wild Bill.
There are loads of parts in this show for both male and female members and with a great rousing chorus, a lot of bodies will be required to ensure that the musical is carried off appropriately and with our usual aplomb. We are calling on all our current members, past members and anybody who would like to have a go, to come along and join in the fun .... and there will be fun. Of that there is no doubt.
Musical Director Mary Rose McNally will introduce the musical numbers to all during the first few rehearsals and Director David Heffernan will be on hand to conduct the auditions for the main parts towards the end of January - more details later. There will also be CD's of the music available for those who wish to get a copy.
Among some of the well known numbers - many of them made famous by Doris Day during her screenplay adaptation of Calamity Jane - are The Black Hills of Dakota, Secret Love, I Can Do Without You, It's Harry I'm Planning to Marry, The Deadood Stage, and A Hive Full of Honey.
So come along to the first rehearsal and get ready to don your stetsons and leathers. What better way to escape the economic blues than to retreat into the world of fantasy.
The only thing Thurles Musical Society asks for when calling on people to come along and get involved, is that you are prepared to have fun, and lot's of it. We have room for everyone - singers, dancers, actors, set builders, painters, fundraisers, costume makers, hairdressers, make-up, tea-makers, general dogs bodies .... everyone is most welcome to our all-inclusive Society.
See you on the 12th
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