| Nicole Navarre as sharpshooter Annie Oakley (Photos: Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune) |
That grand dame of the musical theater "Annie Get Your Gun" has undergone a some freshening up
over the years.
The version that the Black Swamp Players bring to the stage starting tonight has a few familiar elements
missing notably the buffoonery involving Indian characters. And there’s a subplot added involving two
young lovers, that’s actually a revival from the original script.
There’s also a frame putting the show within a show, but the Players downplay that part, given the stage
restrictions at First United Methodist. In any case how much does the book matter? The script is merely
a frail frame on which to hang a passel of some of the best songs Irving Berlin ever penned.
The one constant over the years, since the show first starred Ethel Merman in 1946, is that it all
revolves around Annie, and in Nicole Navarre, the Players have an actress who carries the role with
polish and aplomb from her character’s scrappy introduction to her tender love song denouement.
"Annie Get Your Gun" runs tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and Feb. 24, 25
and 26 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Bowling Green.
The show is Bob Marzola’s first shot at directing the troupe’s winter musical. His work as a
choreographer has enlivened shows for years, and now he demonstrates a sure hand at directing.
The show has a clean, uncluttered feel. The stage in the church hall has been extended, with the band
positioned stage left.
The band, conducted by Chris Coy, is well-drilled and sure, if a bit loud in parts.
Set changes are kept to a minimum, so the show keeps rolling from hit to hit, and the Players hit the
mark on every one of those wonderful tunes starting with Cody Dent, as Frank Butler, intoning a soulful
version of the show’s theme "There’s No Business Like Show Business."
The show really is more a show about show business than anything related to the story of Annie Oakley.
The romances, both of them, are boiler plate. Falling in love, which we’re are told is wonderful,
overcoming the obstacle – sharpshooter Frank Butler’s ego – until the final scene.
But as the show stopper "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better" demonstrates, this is more about
entertainment skills, singing sweeter, higher, holding a note longer. When Navarre holds that note it’s
impressive not just for those on stage, but is truly an impressive feat especially as she comes out of
the note with a lovely vibrato. She’s got chops.
Dent keeps up with her, always full of himself, yet lovable all the same.
Marzola has surrounded them with a fine cast. Guy Zimmerman, a Players regular is unrecognizable under
his Buffalo Bill costume, but he brings a mix of warmth and authority to role. Durrell Johnson is his
business manager, a comic operator.
Alisha Bonds gives a lively performance in the thankless role of Dolly, who has to play multiple
functions here, as the conniving business associate, rival for Frank’s attentions and shrew who wishes
to keep her little sister and her boyfriend apart.
Those lovers Winnie and Tommy, half Indian in this version, are played by Rhianon Cowden and Tyler
Matanick. They get two romantic duets on "I’ll Share It All with You" and "Who Do You
Love, I Hope."
Bryan Craig also working under heavy makeup plays Sitting Bull as caring and canny.
As would be expected from a show directed by a choreographer, there’s plenty of dancing, but it doesn’t
overwhelm the action.
His dance for Frank and the cowboys on "My Defenses Are Down" has a wonderful shambling feel to
it and "I’ve Got the Sun in the Morning" is a burst of energy.
Not that this show is ever still for long. "Annie Get Your Gun" provides just motivation for
local theater lovers to stir themselves and get moving to the show.
