This great show was given the full treatment by a talented production team, consisting of DIRECTOR, SHEILA ARDEN, MUSICAL DIRECT0R, DAVID GRUBB and CHOREOGRAPHER MARISA PETROZZI. Their combined efforts contrived to produce a show full of life and vigour, taken at a cracking pace with excellent singing and dancing and well rounded performances from all the principal actors.Inevitably some of the guns failed to go off, but the back-up off stage was skillfully done and worked very well.The Indian scene was impressive, both in look and sound and was very well choreographed.

ANNIE OAKLEY is, of course, a dream of a role to play, going as it does from innocent backwoods girl to the higher levels of American society and JO DAVIES gave a superb performance. She was lively but warm, strong yet vulnerable and endeared herself to the audience with some great singing and acting.

GEORG TORMANN, as FRANK BUTLER, looked every inch the dashing hero and, although I had heard him sing in a lighter vein in the past, had managed to produce a strong baritone voice which was a delight to listen to. Full of swagger and bombast, he charmed the ladies and was the perfect foil to Annie.

KEVIN GAUNTLETT was a very good CHARLIE DAVENPORT. As ever managing to eclipse nearly everyone else while he was on stage, he produced a more rounded character than many who have gone before and really made him stand out but PAULINE GREGOIRE as DOLLY TATE was not overwhelmed and fought back for all she was worth.

We all have a very clear idea of how BUFFALO BILL should look and act and CHRIS ARDEN lived up to our expectations with a big performance that worked very well. Equally, we have a firm. vision of SITTING BULL and, here again, ANTHONY PAKENHAM did not disappoint, giving us a nicely judged performance. TERRY GAUNTLETT’s PAWNEE ‘BILL was well played and BOB FAINT made an in-pact in his role as FOSTER WILSON.

The small parts were all handled well - KIM SIBLEY as Mrs POTTER PORTER, ANDY C as WILD HORSE and ANDREW BROWN as MAC and the CONDUCTOR/PORTERS were well sung by PETER FIORINI, GARY GRINHAM and BARRY KNIGHT.

The children were utterly delightful. Of course, I only saw one of the two groups, but LEAH INGRAM (MINNIE), LUCY PITMAN (JESSIE), SIMONE SALEM (NELLIE) and particularly ALEX ARDEN (JAKE) were very good. The other group I am sure were just as good.

The large CHORUS was enthusiastic and full of life and vigour, belting out the songs with gusto and the DANCERS were very disciplined and a joy to watch with their lovely beaming smiles and expert footwork.

The SCENERY was excellent, as was the LIGHTING, and the sound on this occasion was particularly fine as everything could be heard, even right at the back of the stage. COSTUMES were very good.

It was a great evening’s entertainment and I enjoyed it enormously. Congratulations to everyone involved for the immense amount of work that had gone into such a successful show.