Annie Get Your Gun is about how a powerful woman with a gun can still find love. Irving Berlin presents Annie in a comedy type form. His spin on the original book by the Fields provided sing and dance. The musical gave insight into the 1800’s and the way people thought and acted. Henrik Ibsen’s challenge of gender norms was presented in this play. Irving Berlin intended to tell a story of a woman in a man’s world. In musical fashion, he has uneducated Annie Oakley with a keen sharpshooting ability to meet Frank Butler an entertainer and sharpshooter. Frank Butler, a man gives Annie a stage to show what a woman can do with and without a gun. With a gun she beats a man at his own typically accepted sport of sharpshooting; without a gun, she falls in love with Frank Butler without giving up any of her power as her own person.
The musical definitely challenged gender roles in every scene of the play. Annie as a woman was expected to conform to the norms of society. These norms included staying in the house and taking care of the children. In the 1800s, the thought of a woman owning and knowing how to fire a gun was ridiculous. Annie took on a role which was for the most part for a man. Most of the characters especially Frank Butler did not take Annie seriously which represents the majority of society. When Annie shared the stage with Frank Butler this made him as a man nervous. Not only could Annie shoot better than him but he saw Annie as everything a woman shouldn’t be.
This play gave a voice to powerless women. A woman should not be restricted to the norms society places on them. Annie’s gun isn’t what gives her power; it's her ability to be who she is unapologetically. Modern day examples include women who would want to play a male appropriated sports such as basketball and football. Annie’s way around a rifle is the epitome of that.
The actors were very interactive; you thought you were apart of the show. One actor stole the show though. Annie Oakley was magnificent and gave the show life it was missing at some parts. The person playing Annie owned it as if she was similar to the character she was portraying. Matched with her very strong voice it left nothing back. Her voice matched the demeanor the character. Her voice louder than the gunshots at times.
Speaking of the sound display, it leads to an important role for the play. The rifle, which is an essential part of the play was brought to life. The sound effects from the cock of the gun to the actual shot provided the power to the fake object. The play could have included more singing from other characters than Annie it still didn’t take anything away from the performance. Her vocals really showed the power of the message she was sending.
The play has scenery with splashes of colors from the Wild West. A lot of blues, yellows, red and brown were implemented. The transitions from setting to setting were leaned on the two posters on both sides of the stage with the place name. The posters were replaced smoothly and in rhythm. It was bright to represent the sunny dessert it would have been taken place in. Once, taken to New York the whole demeanor of the scenery was changed to a much darker and grimier tone. A showtime mood rather than an old west theme.
During the Wild West, the costume colors included bright pastel colors. Different colors were given to the background characters kinda like a pallet. Annie was dressed uniquely compared to the other female leads. She was dressed traditionally like a man during the time. When the play transitions to the show time scenes that most take place in New York, saw a change in costumes. More. Clothes were given to the characters due to the shift in weather conditions of both settings. When Annie was attempting to get Frank to love her she dressed more ladylike with dresses as such. I noticed Annie throughout the play and her boost confidence saw more colorful and extravagant clothing options. Hats showed the powerful people within the play.
During the 1940s, women had more opportunities than those in the time period of the musical’s setting. Like Annie, they had been given a chance to prove that they could do anything a man could, especially during the war years, when they were enlisted to fill vacated positions in factories and production plants. Unfortunately, they lost those jobs when the war ended and former soldiers reclaimed their positions, forcing them back to domestic lifestyles. I believe that when Annie Get Your Gun first debuted in 1949, it gave women hope by reminding them that they still could be as capable as men at some things.
In this production, I also believe that the playwrights were attempting to do two things. First, they were trying to write a musical about one of the most colorful characters in the history of American show business. Second, they were trying to challenge the gender stereotypes of the late 1940s by showing how similar attitudes were challenged back in the 1800s.
In my opinion, both goals were achieved. In doing the first, they have given us one of the most popular, most entertaining, and memorable musicals in the history of Broadway. By succeeding in the second goal, they showed the American public that women are just as capable at some of the tasks that were usually reserved for men, which may have seemed like a radical idea for both posts World War II America and the late 1800s.
After watching the performance of this musical, I can honestly say that the efforts of the playwrights and composer were worth their time and effort. I can also honestly say that the efforts of the cast, crew, and musicians of Emporia State to produce an entertaining and exciting musical were worth their time and amazing talent as well. Needless to say, I was genuinely impressed with the professionalism and quality of this production.