Knowle Operatic Society

Annie Get Your Gun,

Solihull Library Theatre, October 1989

Producer: Stephen J Yeomans  Musical Director: Ronald Gullen Beales

Choreographer: Mavis Thompson

Local 'Solihull News' report: 

Another hit for village Society

Annie Get your Gun, Solihull Library Theatre.

Knowle Operatic Society has done it again with this lively, colourful and entertaining family show.

Its adaptation of Annie Get your Gun was the perfect tribute to Irving Berlin who wrote the lyrics and music.

With songs like, There’s No Business like Show Business, I’m an Indian Too, and Anything You Can Do, it was a great way to tap the night away.

Joan Ransom is marvellous as Annie Oakley, the sharpest shooter in the world however much Frank Butler, played by Chris Saunders would like to dis­pute that.

 Bright array

Annie was on stage for most of the time appearing in a bright array of costumes. She was the true country girl who joins the show business bandwagon.

The story is of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show touring Ohio with their hero Frank Butler. He meets Annie Oakley and they eventually end up competing in a shooting match.

Of course Annie beats Frank hut at the same time she falls head over heals in love with him but realises also that “you can’t get a man with a gun.”

Frank is furious that he has been beaten by a woman and his pride is hurt!

Despite this the couple join forces and tour with the Wild West Show together falling in love. But when Annie begins to outshine Frank and he realises he might end up doing the cooking he leaves the show - and Annie.

But there is a fairy tale ending and Annie and Frank end up in each other’s arms.

The show was thoughtfully produced by Stephen Yeomans and choreographed by Mavis Thomp­son and the live orchestra, with music directed by Ronald Gullen Beales and the band conducted by Stephen Woodward, helped pull everything together.

Lively

Circus manager, Charlie Davenport, played by Michael Thornborrow was a lively character whom we are not quite sure we should love or hate.

Annie’s siblings played by Ra­chel Ransom, Lowri Roberts, Helen Goodwin and Matthew Cotton make a marvellous troupe.

Solihull Library Theatre was a very good venue for the group’s production which loses none of the friendliness and warmth which, I am told, existed on show nights in Knowle Village Hall for years.

Knowle Operatic Society was formed in 1968 and donates all its proceeds to charity.

 Hannah Walker

Site Created and Hosted by www.cuckney.net