Bristol Hippodrome Theatre Review: Calamity Jane
Summary
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 23rd September – Saturday 27th September
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome
Duration: 2 hours (incl. interval)
Keywords: Musical, Western, Comedy
Photography by Mark Senior
Review
The curtain rose on a rollicking night of musical theatre as Calamity Jane brought the spirit of the frontier to the Bristol Hippodrome on 23th September. Based on the Doris Day movie and set in the dusty town of Deadwood, the show follows the chaotic and charming journey of Calamity Jane: a gun-toting, sharp-tongued heroine who’s as tough as the cowboys around her, and often mistaken for one herself.
The staging itself brought us straight into the Western world, with its props, additional staging and lighting which perfectly illuminated the feeling of being in Deadwood. I particularly enjoyed the stage within the stage effect. At times it felt that we were watching a musical within a musical, which added to my enjoyment of the production.
Photography by Mark Senior
The plot kicks off with excitement as the glamorous actress, arriving to perform, all to a disappointment of the arrival of Francis Fryer, who quickly steals the show with his musical number about the weather which was both hilarious and endearing. The show continues with Calamity’s adventure to Chicago to find the most famous Adelaide Adams who is expected to arrive in town to perform, sending the locals into a frenzy. But things don’t go quite as planned, leading to a series of hilarious misadventures, mistaken identities, and heartfelt revelations. The show is packed with hilarious one-liners, quick wit, and moments of genuine warmth as Calamity navigates her way from being called “Mr Calamity” to discovering her true self and happiness.
Carrie Hope Fletcher shines in the title role as Calamity Jane, delivering a powerhouse performance that blends brilliant comedic timing, emotional depth, and stunning vocals. Her rendition of “Just Blew In from the Windy City” was a crowd favourite—full of sass, swagger, and infectious energy that had the audience tapping along.
Among the standout characters was the lovable Francis Fryer, who quickly became a Deadwood citizen. And of course, the show-stealing Rattlesnake, who opened the performance by casually picking up a banjo, instantly won over the crowd with charm and musical flair.
See If: If you enjoy a western movie with sharp wit and comedy.
Stand Out Moment: Frances Fryer’s first performance to the crowds
Last Impressions: A beautiful story of growth, self-love and being able to be yourself in the crowd even when people tell you that “You look better in a dress”.
Written by Dominika Mazurkiewicz