Upon my return to the Tivoli — the first of what I hope will be many this summer — I was met with surprise and delight.
I knew very little about Annie Get Your Gun before seeing Shazam Theatre Company’s performance on Thursday night. From the minimal research I'd done on the West End and Broadway hit, I learned the production is loosely based on the life of notorious American markswoman and folk heroine Annie Oakley, who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows.
Way to go for a woman of the 1800s!
As it happens, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show famously visited Aberdeen in August of 1904 — so prolific was its pull that fishermen deserted their boats, causing a huge adverse effect on the industry across the region.
What a treat, then, to see such a great am dram theatre production brought to life on our city's stages. Shazam’s rough-and-tumble ride takes you on a journey with sharpshooter Annie Oakley as she joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, falls for rival marksman Frank Butler, and finds herself in a hilarious battle of love, pride and competition.
Always one to support a pioneering woman, I was rather excited — and I was right to be.
Abaigh McMenaman as Frank Butler and Ellie Peters as Annie Oakley. Image - Courtesy of Shazam Theatre
Annie Oakley herself (the role shared by Hilary Ludkin-Finnie and Ellie Peters) was an absolute force of nature from the moment she stepped on stage. On Thursday night, Ludkin-Finnie brought an energy and warmth to the role — equal parts fearless and vulnerable — making it impossible not to root for her from the very first scene. Her voice soared through the Tivoli's intimate space, and her comic timing was sharp without ever feeling forced. A standout performance that anchored the whole evening.
Opposite Ludkin-Finnie, Frank Butler (Aoife O'Neill and Abaigh McMenaman as co-leads) held her own admirably as Annie's sharp-shooting rival and love interest. There's a fine line to walk with Frank (apparently, according to my research!); charming enough to be believable, flawed enough to be funny. O’Neill walked it so well, adding some quirky 'man-nerisms' in the process. The chemistry between the pair felt genuine, which made the classic push-and-pull of their romance genuinely enjoyable to watch.
Both Buffalo Bill (alternated by Emily Harrison and Claudie Kelman) and Charlie Davenport (Laura Dow) brought the big personalities the roles demand, commanding the stage with bravado. Characters who could easily veer into caricature, Dow and Harrison played them with rootin' tootin' humour and an abundance of energy that carried through the show.
Traditionally male roles, seeing them taken on by women added a fresh dynamic that felt anything but out of place. In fact, it felt like a perfect fit. Every line landed, every scene popped, and Dow and Harrison’s combined comedic timing and confidence had the audience in the palm of their hands.
Ellie Peters as Annie Oakley, and siblings. Image - Courtesy of Shazam Theatre
Dolly Tate (Shannon McClusky and Ruby Arnold alternating) was sharp, funny, and brilliantly watchable — a scene-stealer in her own right. McClusky played the rivalry and cattiness with real relish, her comic instincts spot on throughout. Great fun from start to finish.
Shazam has also found two rising stars in Kayla Nicol and Sadie Morrison, playing the show's forbidden young lovers. Their voices were captivating and I was excited every time they stepped on stage.
The leads were excellent but no am dram production lives or dies on the leads alone and Shazam’s ensemble was a real highlight of the evening. The chorus numbers sung with infectious energy, and it was clear that everyone on that stage, from the front row to the back, was fully committed and having a wonderful time.
That collective enthusiasm is contagious, lifting every big number considerably. The audience — young and old — were clearly enthralled; at one point, a little voice shouted "pull!" during a shooting scene, prompting the band to hit an extra note and filling the room with laughter!
Equally deserving of credit is the band, whose live accompaniment gave the whole show a real vitality. Irving Berlin's score is packed with iconic tunes — There's No Business Like Show Business, Anything You Can Do — each landing with the punch it deserves. A tight, polished musical performance that underpinned the action beautifully throughout.
And proof, if it were needed, that there really is no business like show business for putting a smile on your face.
Shazam Theatre Company has delivered another production that showcases just how much homegrown talent Aberdeen has to offer. The Tivoli was the perfect setting — intimate, atmospheric and a venue that deserves to be filled night after night. If this is the standard being set for the year ahead, Aberdeen's am dram scene is in very good hands indeed.
Annie Get Your Gun is at the Tivoli Theatre until Saturday, 6 June. You can find more information and tickets at the Tivoli Theatre.