THE only problem with this review is that it isn’t long enough for the superlatives that this Watermill Theatre production richly deserves: in short - it’s stunning. The exceptionally talented ensemble of 14 not only act, sing and dance their way through this exuberant show, but play the music as well, brilliantly.

Jodie Prenger, leading the company, plays the "green-eyed, snarling, spitting" title role to the hilt, strutting, and sometimes stumbling, her way through the masculine world of the Wild West. And it takes newly-arrived actress, Katie Brown, beautifully played by Phoebe Street, to bring out Calamity’s feminine side with the simple but effectively staged, if somewhat non-PC, A Woman’s Touch.

The story is a love quadrangle with Calamity Jane and Tom Lister’s love-blind Wild Bill Hickok "like the seven year itch to each other". He doesn’t realise he loves her and, anyway, she is busy falling for Alex Hammond’s dashing Lt Danny Gilmartin whose attention is drawn to the allure of Katie. Calamity and Wild Bill are, of course, destined to be together, and when romance finally blossoms it produces two of the most memorable high-spots of the evening; Wild Bill’s solo Higher than a Hawk with Lister accompanying himself on guitar to rapt attention, and Prenger’s show-stopping delivery of Secret Love.

Richard Jones’ atmospheric lighting is the perfect accompaniment to Matthew Wright’s cleverly evocative Golden Garter saloon bar setting, and with great songs and boundless energy, this 1950s musical comes up shining brighter than a sheriff’s star and has to be one of the best musical productions currently on-the-road.

Runs until Saturday. Box Office: 0844-871-3022 or ATGtickets.com/Sunderland