Theatre Arlington opened its 36th season with Peter Stone’s 1999 revision of Irving Berlin’s 1946 musical, Annie Get Your Gun. Special to the Star-Telegram/Rachel Parker

Annie Get Your Gun

Review

Theatre Arlington’s 'Annie’ is good but doesn’t reach great

By Mark Lowry

ARLINGTON — More so than many of Broadway’s golden classics, Irving Berlin’s 1946 musical, Annie Get Your Gun, seems hopelessly resistant to reinterpretation and relevance. Even in Peter Stone’s 1999 revision, the version with which Theatre Arlington opens its 36th season, it seems stuck in that place where revivals can always be entertaining but never transcendent.

Good thing it’s chock-full of unforgettable songs (There’s No Business Like Show Business, You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun and Anything You Can Do) and, of course, Berlin’s mastery of melody.

On the entertaining front, this production from director B.J. Cleveland and music director Don Powers is stubbornly by the numbers, even if the local musical stars in the main roles — Jenny Thurman as Annie Oakley, Jim Johnson as Frank Butler and Rob Hood as Buffalo Bill — are playing in a much higher league than most of the other actors.

Thurman, who in other roles has frequently exhibited the blustery, strong personality needed for Oakley (the sharpshooter who becomes the star of the traveling Wild West show in which Butler had been top-billed), is the natural choice for this role. She’s resolute but nicely captures the character’s transformation. And her creamy voice will make you want to hear her version of Moonshine Lullaby again and again.

Johnson’s previously seen skills with comic roles make it difficult to imagine him as the romantic leading man, but then that big voice comes out, and it is easy to see how he makes Annie swoon. Hood is top-flight as well.

Everything else is good and entertaining. But it’s not enough to make you renew your faith in the power of musicals, especially in the wake of stand-out revivals of West Side Story (Lyric Stage) and The Who’s Tommy (Dallas Theater Center).

Annie needs to get something more powerful than a gun. What about an inspired resuscitation?

Be advised: Nothing offensive — except maybe the sexism and ethnic stereotyping, which Stone severely toned down.
Runtime: Two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Best reason to go: Thurman, who’s perfect for this role.

— Mark Lowry
Posted on Monday, Sep. 15, 2008

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What the Audiences are Saying

"My husband and I went to see Annie Get your Gun on Friday night and it was absolutely delightful! This was our first time there and it won't be our last. The parking was great, the theatre people were friendly and helpful, the crowd was fun, the talent was incredible, the music was fabulous and we left laughing. Thanks for all your hard work!"
- Jan Anderson

"My granddaughter and I attended the Sunday, September 28 show. I was the only guy in the front row, she was the (quite obviously, at age 9) youngest female. We had a wonderful time. She was particularly taken when "Annie" sung a line TO me and "Frank" spoke directly TO me. And what "pipes" the leads had! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I'm pretty sure each of us will return, me with my wife, she with her mother, father and (perhaps) 11 year old brother."
- Jim Stuyck

"This past Friday, I took myself on a date to the musical "Annie Get Your Gun" at Theatre Arlington, a small community theater in downtown Arlington. The ticket was only $20 and it was a fabulous show! I only had to drive about 10-15 minutes to get there, the parking was right outside the entrance - it was great! I had never seen that show before, and it was very Texas-ish too. :)"
Here's a pic of the stage during intermission:

- The Red Daisy

"We had the most wonderful time! My grandson applauded every chance he could find. He was laughing out loud at lines I didn't realize he could understand. This experience of so many young men in the musical really impressed him in a great way. My soon to be 8yr old grandson also enjoyed the play. He was mesmerized by all the action and surprises along with the singing. 

Thank you so much for such a 'healthy' and very enjoyable evening! We will be back!"
- Rae Jean Johnson

"I went and saw "Annie Get Your Gun" last Sunday and it was AWESOME!!!!"
- Fouatchao Moua

"We had an amazing time at the play (Opening Night.) How fantastic was that! Honey and I just had the best time! It was a wonderful night out and it was amazing the talent we had the chance to experience."
- Melissa Unger

"Jenny Thurman has character in spades, and a gorgeous singing voice that can go from husky to pure to sexy, and that’s just in one song. Jim Johnson is appealing Frank Butler. If you’re in the DFW area, you really should call for reservations and go see this play."
- Chauceriangirl
The Red Daisy

Jenny Thurman as Annie Oakley

Visual Arts

Yeah, we know that the masterful Irving Berlin musical Annie Get Your Gun speaks for itself, with songs that have become so famous you probably know them without realizing where they came from (There’s No Business Like Show Business, Anything You Can Do). But why is it that some of us can never hear the show’s title without thinking of the Squeeze song of the same name? Guess that’s what happens when you love show tunes and ’80s New Wave equally. Theatre Arlington opens its 36th season with the classic musical, featuring local favorite Jenny Thurman as Annie Oakley and Jim Johnson as Frank Butler.

— Mark Lowry
Posted on Fri, Sep. 12, 2008