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As John Wayne would say: ?Wahl, Annie Get Your Gun,? and the rest of you grab your hats and ride on out to see the latest offering at [tag]Solano College Theatre[/tag]. Director, Dyan McBride, has assembled a remarkable cast to present with high energy and precision the [tag]musical tale[/tag] of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. The music by Irving Berlin is still memorable and delightful to hear, and the story is amusing and sometimes poignant when crafted as well as it is in this production.

McBride?s casting choice for Annie, Katie Lynn Winchell, is nothing short of stellar. From the moment she steps onto the stage, Winchell owns it. She portrays Annie with great depth and believability. She is at once naive and vulnerable, tough and confident. Her facial expressions are a delight, leaving little doubt as to what she is thinking and feeling throughout this demanding role. Winchell can sing too! Whether belting out ?There?s No Business Like Show Business? or singing the kids to sleep with ?Moonshine Lullaby,? Winchell?s vocals are impeccable.

Winchell is ably partnered with Joshua Hollister as Frank Butler. He has a strong, rich baritone, and, though sometimes a tad one-dimensional, he is ultimately likeable and a good foil for Annie.

Supporting male actors were strong as well. Dan Clanton (Charlie Davenport) was especially fun to watch and listen to, delivering an energetic and compelling performance. Robert Vasquez Ponce (Sitting Bull), manages to be cuddly as well as curmudgeonly.

The only casting glitch among a very strong and able ensemble might be Patty Penrod as Dolly Tate. The talented Penrod, who played a marvelous Mrs. Lovett in SCT?s recent production of Sweeney Todd, nevertheless seems a bit mis-cast as Dolly. She provides a strong performance, and she can certainly sing, but the opportunity to portray Dolly as a young assistant that has a raging case of jealousy because of her infatuation with Frank would have transformed the part from broad comedy to one that matches the remainder of the cast. As it stands, Dolly, while amusing, doesn?t seem to fit into the same play as the rest of the ensemble.

Production values for the show are well rendered. Posters for Buffalo Bill?s Wild West Show that depict Butler and Oakley with an artist?s rendition are recognizable even to the costumes worn. Brilliant! Costuming by B. J. Bandy is terrific. The detail of having a wide sleeve cuff on Annie?s wild west costume, perfectly mirrored in her beautiful traveling gown, provides the ideal repository for Frank?s letter. Such details not only look great, they help the audience follow the story, and aid the actor, too.

Of considerable note is the energetic, never boring, always well-designed choreography by Staci Arriaga. Every move helps illustrate the lyrics and propels the story forward. Each number is great fun. Especially so is the opening number ?I?m A Bad, Bad Man.? Here the local girls manage to tie Frank up in knots with a dandy dance reminiscent of a Maypole. Frank provides the anchor for the ladies to join hands and weave in and out and round about as they wrestle with him. Very fun, the number sets the bar for brilliant dance sequences that, fortunately, are consistently met throughout the show. It is great to see a musical that incorporates the dance sequences so seamlessly with the music and dialogue. The rifle choreography by David Day is amazing. For such an important aspect of the show, only precision will do, and Day has hit the target.

[tag]Annie Get Your Gun[/tag] is playing weekends until 15 October. Don?t miss SCT?s musical story of Little Sure Shot; it is a sure thing. Call the Solano College Theatre Ticket Office at (707) 864-7100 or get more information at http://www.solano.edu/fine_arts/theater/productions.html#annie.

[tags]theatre reviews, theater reviews[/tags]

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