“ANNIE GET YOUR GUN ”

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25932, 12 October 1949, Page 6

“ANNIE GET YOUR GUN ”

POPULAR MUSICAL COMEDY The music snd songs of Irving Berlin need no introduction to the people of Christchurch, for they have already become famous on the radio and on the films. Christchurch now has an opportunity of hearing some of Berlin’s best music and at the same time seeing a splendid musical comedy, for I “Annie Get Your Gun” has arrived in j the city. It opened last evening in j the Theatre Royal before a capacity I. house, and the audience left no doubt i ‘ about its appreciation. From her first appearance on the stage. Evie Hayes, as Annie Oakley, the infallible rifle markswoman, delighted the audience with her pleasing voice and her capacity for making ; even the most humorous song appear funnier. She played the role with a polished ease and smoothness, and whether in rough buckskin or satin and furs was always Annie, the girl , who captured not only the heart of her rival marksman and lover, but the affection of all round her. Her singing of “Doing What Comes Naturally,” “You Can’t Get a Man : With a Gun," and, with Earl Covert. “Anything You Can Do.” almost had . the audience in convulsions, but when I she was called on to sing the more I serious “They Say It’s Wonderful.” she showed that she was not only a comedian. Miss Hayes had a most able leading i man in Earl Covert, the tall, dark, and handsome baritone, who played the I pert of Frank Butler, the star of Buf- ■ falo Bill Cody's travelling show, and i Annie’s rival as a marksman. Among i his best songs were “The Girl That I ! Marry.” and "My Defences Are 1 Down.” in which he was supported by a strong male chorus. The story of the show, briefly, is that Annie, an illiterate "hill-billy.” meets and defeats Frank Butler, a champion rifle shot and a man who knows it. They team up in Cody’s show, but only until Frank finds that Annie has been billed as the star of the show. In a fit of jealousy he departs to a rival show, leaving Annie to go to Europe with Buffalo Bill. When she returns, her dress weighed down with medals, she is determined to get her man back, but it is only when her friends alter the sights of the rifles which she is to use in a contest against her lover that she realises the truth of her song. “You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun.” She loses the contest, the two shows unite, and the lovers are happy. Supporting Miss Hayes and Covert is a cast of unusually high stendard. The best is Charles Crawford, who has the part of Chief Sitting Bull, an amiable and practically monosyllabic Indian. who. enraptured by Annie, invests his money in the show, only to lose the lot. His remarks and gestures throughout the show delighted the audience, and it was a pity that he was not introduced with the leading artists when the show ended. As Bill Cody, Claude Fleming gives a polished performance, and other notable supporting artists are Marie La Varrc as the buxom Mrs Tate. Francis Johnston as Pawnee Bill, the opposition showman, and Carl Randall as Charlie Davenport. Cody's manager and promoter The dancing of the brilliantly dressed cowboys and the chorus was good throughout the show, but that of Beth Dean, a ballerina, and of Robert Harvey, who did a beautiful and breathtaking Indian ceremonial dance, thoroughly deserved special applause, as did the novelty dancing of Nellie Stewart and Donald Kirk. Elaborate and brilliant costumes are a feature of the show, and colourful | backgrounds are provided for the nine | different scenes. Conducted by Leo Packer, the or- | chestra worked hard throughout the ■ show, and though at times it tended to become too loud when playing without singers, it was usually melodious and welded together e?ch scene. The show will remain in Christchurch for a limited season.