It was a film that was regularly on in the Nickalls household when I was a little girl.

Doris Day is one of my mum’s favourite actors and I was brought up on musicals from that golden era, including Calamity Jane.

My knowledge of White Christmas is almost word perfect to this day, I had dreams of being a Von Trapp child (minus the having to escape the Nazis) and the weird kidnapping in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers never phased me - I just liked the colour coordination and the songs.

So when the production of the 1953 classic came to the Marlowe, it was one I had to see.

It was clear from the first song that my mother and I weren’t the only ones there because of a love for the film and a keenness for an evening of nostalgia.

As the comedy character of Rattlesnake, played by Richard Lock, slowly started to play the Black Hills of Dakota on his banjo, my instinct to elbow my mum in the ribs to stop her singing was quashed when I realised most of the audience were quietly, respectfully, singing along too.

From then, we were transported to the southern state in the 1870s.

The musical follows sharpshooter Calamity Jane who falls in love with Lt. Danny Gilmartin but, when a seductive singer from Chicago turns up in Calamity’s lonely town of Deadwood, she turns his head and Calamity is left heartbroken.

It’s loosely based on the real life of Martha Jane Canary, better known as Calamity Jane, who was a frontierswoman that joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in the 1800s to perform her shooting skills.

The film and stage adaptations both feature well-known numbers such as the Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), the Black Hills of Dakota and Secret Love.

The storyline remains largely the same, with small parts of the plot coming back to me as the production continued.

It stayed true to the essence of the original, which is set as a Western but very much a love story.

But as with all things made in a certain era, it needed a refresh, which has been done in just the right way.

Any outdated references to Native Americans were removed, and the language was subtly altered for a more modern audience.

Carrie Hope Fletcher played the lead role. She’s had a hugely successful career but I admit I mainly know her from the occasional TikTok and her famous brother.

I feel like I’ve missed out.

She was the perfect Calamity. She commanded the stage with her storytelling and her chemistry with Vinny Coyle, who played Wild Bill Hickok, was beautiful even when they weren’t the main focus in the scene.

Her upset at her rejection made me shed a tear and her rendition of Secret Love was simply stunning. It’s the only song in the show where Calamity drops the cowgirl bravado and shows her sensitive side. And Fletcher did it beautifully.

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The whole cast was exceptional. The singing and dancing is somewhat expected from a show at the Marlowe at this point, but throw in a saxophone, flute and cello into the mix and the talent in the ensemble reaches a whole new level.

It’s a fun, classic, cosy and severely underrated musical. I goosebumped at the opening, found myself smiling like fool and even shed a tear on an occasion or two.

Whether you’re a fan or the film, Carrie Hope Fletcher or just love a brilliantly performed musical, whip crack away to the Marlowe and you won’t be disappointed.

Calamity Jane is at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday, May 31. You can book tickets here or by calling 01227 787787.

The show is also at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley from Tuesday, September 16 to Saturday, September 20. You can book tickets here.

You can also book tickets by calling 03433 100020.