Wiltshire Times

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2007

Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society poured all their energy and talent into Irving Berlin's rumbustious musical, filling the stage with colour and spectacle.

Their success is all the more impressive, given that Annie Get Your Gun is a show that demands a lot from its cast, with complex melodies and vocal gymnastics. It is also a production that stands or falls on the strength of its leading lady, and Michelle Hole gave a magnificent performance as Annie, the backwoods gal who conquers America, Europe and - finally - the man of her dreams.

From the moment she walked on stage, Michelle held the audience captive. Whether playing up the comedy in Doin' What Comes Naturally, leading a superb ensemble performance of I Got the Sun in the Morning, or pulling out all the stops in Anything You Can Do, she simply shone.

Gary Robson as Frank Butler achieved a fine balance between showman and romantic lead, and Pete Grant gave a well-tuned performance as Buffalo Bill. TAOS stalwart Clive James made a splendid Pawnee Bill and Andy Matthews was suitably laconic as Chief Sitting Bull.

It was good to see Allison Moore back in a principal role, as the scheming Dolly Tate, with Teresa Bray outstanding as her wayward little sister Winnie. Teresa's duets with Craig Fisher as Tommy Keeler were a delight.

The chorus were well up to the usual TAOS standard - in both singing and dancing - although possibly a little light in the male ranks.

The big show stopper in this musical is There's No Business Like Show Business, which punctuates the action at, it seems, every opportunity. Performed with gusto as an all-cast production number, and also as solos and duets, it sums up everything Annie Get Your Gun is about: sheer entertainment.

Thursday night's audience was hugely enthusiastic - but there were quite a few empty seats. If you weren't there, you missed a treat.

Joceline Bury