WEYMOUTH Operatic Society has been busy re-inventing itself over the past year or so and this show bears witness to the success it has had in attracting new talent to its ranks.

Better known as an iconic Western movie starring Doris Day, the stage show is a cheerful musical full of rustic charm and packed to the brim with bright and breezy tunes that make you want to join in singing.

Taking centre stage is a personable Karen Pankhurst in a feisty performance as the gun-toting Calam who discovers that life is more fun for a girl when she wears a frock while Simon Dunford looks exactly right as cowboy supremo Bill Hickcock, who thinks he is in love with one girl but winds up with another.

Set in and around the Golden Garter saloon in Deadwood, Dakota, the show gives the cast plenty of opportunity to sing, dance and dress up in a variety of gorgeous costumes as the frontier town gets ready to welcome a stage star into their midst, only to find our accident-prone Calam has brought the star's maid instead.

Stella Brading is in fine voice in the role of the maid Katie - shame about that dress though - as she teaches Calam a thing or two about how to get a man and Stephen Nicholas is her partner in the role as the army lieutenant - a nice guy but whose uniform should be deemed a disaster area.

Supporting roles are played with verve by David Clinch, Ian Jefferis and Lynne Mullins with Claire Timms making the most of the bijou part of Adelaide, the disagreeable diva.

Martyn Knight's direction and choreography are masterpieces of skillful use of the stage and placing of the large chorus, the final scenes in particular having an elegance and poise that are rare indeed in amateur productions.

In his debut as musical director for the company, Ed Hintze maintains a terrific pace, the orchestra having improved immeasurably over the years, while Julie Strong as assistant director helps make the whole enterprise run along smoothly.

With hits songs like Deadwood Stage, Secret Love and Black Hills of Dakota, this is a show that is on course to be a great success. It continues until Saturday.