"Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she's discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades this novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler, who headlines the show. She soon eclipses Butler as the main attraction which, while good for business, is bad for romance. Butler hightails it off to join a rival show, his bruised male ego leading the way, but is ultimately pitted against Annie in a final shoot-out. The rousing, sure-fire finale hits the mark every time in a testament to the power of female ingenuity."--Play summary.
Annie Oakley was real, and you can see a film of her shooting taken by Thomas Edison in the 1890s. Frank Butler really did meet Annie at a shooting match, and he really did teach her many fancy shots. Buffalo Bill Cody really had a Wild West Show, because he wanted people to know about and appreciate what the pioneers and cowboys of earlier generations experienced. They really did tour Europe and Annie received acclaim from the Old World and the New. But Frank was crazy about her first, and he did everything he could to persuade her to marry him, even sending his trained poodle to her with love letters.
Annie was no feminist. Once a suffragette asked her, "Don't you think it would be a good thing for women to vote?" Her answer fired back, "It would be good thing if good women voted." Sabrina brings Annie to life with simplicity and honesty, with no agenda, but just straight shooting and skill. Jimmy gives us a Frank who loves himself, yes, but he learns to love her more, because he finds her love for him, frankly, irresistable. Teresa as Dolly and Jonathan as Charlie are the two perfect foils for the show, and the addition of another love interest with Katy as Winnie Tate and Luke as Tommy Keeler gives us a chance to highlight their tapdance skills.
This show marks the growth of the JP Drama Club in the additional talents of more and more faculty members and parents. Mrs. Kingett trained the vocalists, Mrs. Mullen rehearsed the pit for months, and built the set on the weekends, Mrs. Bow decorated the set, Miss Boyle brought her love of theater and experience to the stage manager position, and Miss Gallagher created choreography and rehearsed numbers with the cast's dancers and the Dance Club. Mr. Keane continues his role of doing everything the director leaves undone, and all the director has to do now is tell the actors what to do! Thanks to all of you, we can enjoy this business that we call show business.
In Christ,
Sister Mary Brigid, O. P.
