Whoopee for the Golden Apple's respecting the great Irving Berlin by doing all the music and words that he wrote for Annie Get Your Gun. Recent p.c. "revisalizers" would have us deprived of the very funny "I'm an Indian Too" and the "Indian Ceremonial" Dance that's a choreographic high point in Golden Apple's production. Luckily, we even get the clever "Old Fashioned Wedding" that Berlin wrote for a 1966 revival. Not only does one hit number follow another but history gets respected: the Fields's script was based on sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler's real life rivalry that led to romance and partnerships in marriage and show business. True, too, is the parallel rivalry, then merger between Buffalo Bill's and Pawnee Bill's Wild West Shows. And Sitting Bull really did adopt Little Sure Shot, who had indeed helped support her siblings by clean-shooting fowl for restaurants. All make for a good story for Berlin's musical hits to punctuate.
As Annie Oakley, Kyle Ennis Turoff vocally follows the lead of original star Ethel Merman, a belter if ever there was one. So a buckskin-clad Turoff is in her element "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" and proclaiming "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun." Though "Moonshine Lullaby" comes over sweetly, she sparks more with children and Indians than with Chris O'Brocto's handsome Frank Butler. He strains enthusiasm about her matronly (as opposed to "soft and pink") presence, though his engaging "My Defenses Are Down" strongly argues otherwise to his friends. Their best mutual emotion shows in "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)." She wins the argument but he displays the better voice.
The supporting cast seems to be having fun, and it's catching. Notably, Megan Ross makes a lively Dolly Tate, Frank's assistant. As Wild West Show promoter Charlie Davenport, smooth-stepping Brad Wages is believably concerned and upbeat.
Liam Mercier's Little Jake is so cute, without trying he can steal scenes. Don Dupree dances fervently like the Wild Horse he plays but with wonderfully controlled movement, especially the lift.
Scenic elements contribute color, best in "western" hues also helped by the uncredited lighting. Costumes are unevenly effective, with Turoff's medal-laden, meant-to-be-glamorous scarlet one needing sleeves. Considering the number of players, the music seems thin when not tinny. But that glorious score (so aptly named here) still hits its mark: our delight!
