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ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto

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#0ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:34am

FRONT ROW CENTRE THEATRE REVIEW: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

Theatre Review by Mark Andrew Lawrence


Toronto’s energy worries are with now that Louise Pitre is back in town radiating enough star power to light up a whole city.

Pitre is starring in a production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN that opened last night at Massey Hall for a 3-week run.

The show contains Irving Berlin’s greatest score, and musical values at Massey Hall are first rate, starting with the on-stage orchestra conducted by Rick Fox. From the top of the Overture where a blare of brass announces the show, through to the grand finale, the orchestra then does what it should do: It provides support for the singers. The sensitive sound design (despite a few odd squawks) allows most of the lyrics to be heard.

When they aren’t, it is more often the fault of the performers. In particular, Billy Ray Cyrus seems to have trouble in this area. The songs seem to extend past his range and he strains to get some of the top notes. His acting is wooden and he delivers his dialogue employing a southern drawl. He just never seems comfortable in a musical comedy, nor does he strike the proper romantic sparks with his co-star. Part of the blame for this comes from the way the show is constructed.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was created in 1946 for Ethel Merman who made it into one of the biggest hits of the 1940s. In 1966 she was persuaded to headline a 20th anniversary revival that premiered at Toronto’s O’Keefe Center for a two-week try-out before heading to New York. For the revival, the score was re-orchestrated and there were some book revisions including the elimination of a secondary romantic couple and their two songs. To replace these, Irving Berlin added a new showstopper for Miss Merman and her co-star, “An Old Fashioned Wedding.”

It is essentially the 1966 version on stage at Massey Hall except Don Carrier’s new adaptation of the book attempts “to display cultural sensitivity more appropriate for today’s audiences.” Well, that’s what it says in the press release. What this means is references to Indians in the opening number have been altered. Sadly it also means the dropping of “I’m an Indian Too” the lively production number that was originally heard near the end of Act One. In this new version a reprise of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” replaces it.

Tailored to Merman’s unique and seemingly inexhaustible voice, the score gives the title character a dozen numbers in whole or in part. Few contemporary performers could handle such a load, but Louise Pitre sure can! She can change gears from a rowdy comedy number to a tender lullaby in the blink of an eye. She knows when to open up and let her voice fill the theatre and also when to bring it down to draw the audience in. She can handle comedy lines and most of all she makes Annie’s character totally believable.

The supporting performers, reduced to mostly cameos here, try hard to match the star. Avery Saltzman is amusing as Pawnee Bill, while Sandy Winsby plays Colonel Buffalo Bill with authoritative command. Jonathan Wilson makes Charlie Davenport into something of a nerd, gaining laughs in the process, while Sandra Caldwell seems physically miscast as the frumpy Dolly Tate. Many of the jokes directed at her looks fail to land because the actress is strikingly attractive. She also has a great voice but really she belongs in a musical of her own.

Director/choreographer Donna Feore lets the stage control the action instead of the reverse. This has a curious effect of killing momentum especially in the second act when the plot itself begins to unravel.

This is not a traditional concert staging with the performers in evening dress carrying music books. The cast is in full costume with the orchestra stage centre. When you think about it that is completely appropriate for a musical so famous for its songs.


ANNIE GET YOUR GUN plays at Massey Hall through Saturday August 20th. Evening performances at Monday through Saturday at 7:30 with 2:00 matinees on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets range from $32.50 to $75.00 and are available online at www.masseyhall.com or by calling (416) 872-4255.


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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Link Larkin Wanabe
#1re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:53am

Hah,

Thanks for another great review. MYYYY version of Annie Get Your Gun opened this week in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Tommorrow I go on for my first show as Tommy Keeler (who I am assuimg was the couple that was cut from the 1966 version). Yay for Annie Get Your Gun thriving in Canada this summer!

Akiva

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frontrowcentre2
#2re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 3:11am

Best wishes for your "opening!"

Yes, Tommy and Winnie were eliminated from the 1966 version. I am surprised they cut "Who Do you Love I Hope" because it had been a minor hit in 1946/47 while the original show was playing on B'way.

I do wish people would STOP doing the awful Peter Stone script for the 1999 revival. He removed all of the humour and added little in return. I prefer either the 1966 or the original 1946 version.


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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Michael Bennett
#3re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 11:36am

Any pictures? Did Pitre lose her silver locks to play a 17 year old?

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Link Larkin Wanabe
#4re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 1:47pm

FRC2,

Yeah...Actually watching yesterday's show I couldn't help but realize how bland this version is. There is relly no plot...VERY little conflict. It is just an excuse for songs (GREAT songs), dances (AMAZING dances...well in our case at least), and gags (Alright gags).

I gotta say I wasn't really a fan of Tommy and Winnie's two songs at first, but they have grown on me, and the dances sure help...plus I have taken some liberties and kind of jazzed them up with some riffs (which my voice pretty much automatically does because I have a belty, smokey voice...a strange combo).

I have a question? Are Tommy and Winnie not in the 1966 version at ALL? or do they just have no songs and their parts are cut down? One reason I know we did the 1999 revival version is because there is a large native population that would attend the show, and this version is the lesser of all the racist versions. Truth be told I was so scared that the native population would be offended by a lot of Dolly's ccomments and Sitting Bull's character...but they are the ones laughing hardest...whew.

Akiva

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Demitri2
#5re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 8:25pm

I've seen the show several times, the last one being the Broadway revival with Bernadette which was a major letdown production wise. The BEST version I ever saw was at the Dorothy Chandler in the late seventies. Not being a Debbie Reynolds fan I was totally impressed with her rendition as Annie but it was the direction by Gower Champion that was truly excellent! He made the show feel like a 3 ring circus and it was wonderful. Lots of fun and it never seemed creaky. It got great reviews and was supposedly on its way to NY but never made it for reasons I've never known.

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Calvin
#6re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/3/05 at 8:42pm

Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but...

WTF were they thinking?! Billy Ray Cyrus? Of course he was wooden. He has never been able to act. He had, like, 4 lines in Mulholland Drive and still managed to bring what was otherwise a great movie to a grinding halt in his scene.

Sounds like they were trying to recreate Reba sensation but picked the wrong horse.

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frontrowcentre2
#7re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/4/05 at 2:22am

CALVIN - Billy Ray was a late addition to the cast. I forget who was riginally announced but on July 20th a press release came out saying whoever it was was out and Billy Ray was in!

Akiva - I checked the cast list in BEST PLAYS of 1965/66 and the characters of Winnie and Tommy do not appear. They also do not appear in the 1957 TV version (and possibly from the stage production in SF too?) nor in the 1950 film.

The book (1946 and 1966 editions) is functional. In fact it is about on a par with the book for OKLAHOMA! Simple, but functional.


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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Link Larkin Wanabe
#8re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/4/05 at 2:27am

FRC2,

That's sad. Hah...i wouldn't even exist in that version. And my two songs...

I beleive Paul Brant was the person set to star as Frank Butler...which would have been exciting because he is a Calgarian. Always fun to see people from your hometown doing great stuff. I dunno what happened though.

Akiva
Updated On: 8/4/05 at 02:27 AM

anfwesternboy
#9re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/4/05 at 2:36am

Yeah it was Paul Brandt... a Canadian country music star (who, along with probably most of Toronto, had never heard of :-p).

He pulled out for "personal reasons."

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frontrowcentre2
#10re: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN starring Louise Pitre & Billy Ray Cyrus opens in Toronto
Posted: 8/4/05 at 3:16am

Maybe he couldn't sing it. We don't tend to think of Frank's song as being rangy but The Girl that I Marry and My defences are Down do go up there and Billy Ray sure had trouble with those high notes!

I have never seen the original 1946 script so I am not sure how much book time Tommy and Winnie were given. From the detailed synopsis in the EMI recording it seems they have a few short scenes to lead into their songs and thats about all.

Does anyone know if the script was ever published in the late 40s or early 50s? So many of the scripts from that erea were published: BRIGADOON, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, KISS ME KATE, the Rodgers & Hammerstein shows, GUYS AND DOLLS... even THE GOLDEN APPLE was published!


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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taperina
#11Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/13/05 at 1:30pm

I am a fan of Louise Pitre's and went to see the opening night of Annie Get Your Gun at Massey Hall in Toronto. I ended up with free tickets since a friend of mine is part of the orchestra. The show was great! I was a little unsure about Louise playing Annie, but she was fabulous. They put a wig on her btw to cover her silver hair. Billy Ray is good, but he has a very quiet voice and Louise really overpowers him. Their "Anything You Can Do..." is hilarious. It's neat how the orchestra is right on the stage and is somewhat involved in the show (they clap duing the shoot outs and duck down when Louise spins around with the gun). Definitely a show worth seeing if you are in the Toronto area this summer. Has anyone else seen it yet?

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frontrowcentre2
#12Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/13/05 at 1:52pm

The show has extended an extra week and now plays until the 27th of August. (this summer is going by WAY too fast!!)

Billy Ray was almost universally panned for her performance but he is a huge draw and many people are coming to see him and wind up liking the show.


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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taperina
#13Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/13/05 at 11:39pm

It's now been extended another week until Sept. 3rd...

Chrysanthemum62001
#14Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/14/05 at 12:13am

Billy Ray Cyrus? Is this a joke?! It *should* be!


"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL

MTRBOI24
#15Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/14/05 at 12:22am

Any kind of student rush? Has it been selling out? Id like to get up there to see it before it ends.

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sabrelady
#16Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/14/05 at 12:33am

I want to try TO TKTS if I can. To be fair Billy Ray has improved as an actor doing his show "Doc" up here for the last 5 yrs but even he said it was a challenge to learn to sing this materiel as it was beyond his experience. Also he really isn't a baritone which is kinda the range I remember for Frank Butler. He is a HUGE draw tho, the show is now extended to Sept 3rd.

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mmFan
#17Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/15/05 at 10:51am

I went to see the show since I'm a fan of Louise Pitre (she was fantastic in Mamma Mia). I didn't know much about the musical (except that its an old one), but I really enjoyed it. It had catchy music (some of the songs I recognized) and it was pretty funny. Louise was great as usual as Annie. She's really animated and gets right into the character. Billy Ray Cyrus was good, but i agree with others that his voice was lost a bit since Louise's is so strong. If anyone is in Toronto, I recommend seeing this play. It's been extended yet another week until Sept.

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best12bars
#18Has anyone seen Annie Get Your Gun in Toronto yet?
Posted: 8/15/05 at 11:11am

"Be still, my Achy-Breaky Heart!"

Just add Charles Nelson Reilly as Buffalo Bill and Charlene Tilton as her standby, and I am SO there.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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