Oklahoma!

Often a youth musical theatre group will stage a rock opera or something modern so it was a delightful surprise that Centre Stage had chosen for their Autumn production one of the earlier musicals, first staged on Broadway in 1943.  Later musicals are excellent entertainment too and wisely this society likes to vary the genre.  The choice of Oklahoma! clearly pleased this audience as there were few empty seats to be seen.

The dialogue is meaningful and there is a strong feeling of history being made with bridges between the ranchers and cowmen being forged as they move towards a more tolerant community.  The cast allowed this journey to be portrayed in a very natural way.  All the energy of a youth group was in abundance.  The dancing, which is fully integrated within the story, had been choreographed with style and superbly performed.  The dream sequence, which is a quite lengthy section where Laurey is in confusion over her feelings for Curley and her discomfort with Jud, was both atmospheric and beautiful.  This group is well trained in aspects of musical theatre, their singing and dancing, in particular, is superb and this production will have enhanced greatly their skills with characterisation.

There were many excellent performances by the principles.  All were very much in their character and there was a good understanding of their part in this epic story.  Relationships between them were strongly defined.  Accents were employed and carried throughout the performance adding much to the integrity of the show.  Diction was clear in both spoken dialogue and song lyrics enabling the audience to fully appreciate the story.   The solos and duets were a joy to listen to.

So much of the story involves couples getting to know each other, forming attachments that progress on to the couples marrying.  Ali Hakim, the pedlar man, sweet-talking himself into one entanglement and then another until finally he is entrapped by Gertie Cummings and has to forgo his wandering life.  Ali was played with humour and lots of expression. The actress playing Gertie had the laugh just right, enough and not too much.  She also had the catfight with Ado Annie which was just long enough before the pair disappeared behind the ranch house.  The actress playing Ado Annie sang "I can't say no" beautifully and with comic expressiveness.  Will Parker is in love with Ado Annie but doesn't know whether he can trust her.  The actor depicted so well  Will's naivete and somewhat confused thinking.  Ike and Slim, Curly's cowman friends, danced skillfully and with energy as they welcomed him back from Kansas City.  Laury and Curly were played by two talented actors with voices to match.  They showed us, very credibly, the change from the teasing and denial of any feelings to the point when they become aware that what they feel for each other is love.  also in the community Andrew Carne and Cord Elam,  the older men.  Good contrast was shown between the high spirits of the younger generation and the more steady senior members of the community.   Although Laurey and Curly are the natural heroes of the plot one other character really stands out, that is Jud.  Possibly one of the more difficult characters in musical theatre to personify.  Jud is callous, twisted and evil but it is so important that we can also feel his pain and his disenfranchisement from society.  He is an embittered outsider.  This was so well portrayed by this actor, showing a very mature understanding of the personality of the character he was playing.

The singing of the principles and the chorus was excellent.  It was sympathetically accompanied by sublime music from the orchestra.  The balance was very good allowing both the sound of the orchestra and of the voices to be enjoyed.  It might have been the positioning of the mics on the actors or some other minor problem but there was an occasional crackling as if the mics had been disturbed.  This was not a major issue and did not detract from our engagement with the performance.

The costumes, which I understand were all produced in house, were exactly what was required - attractive and fitting for the situation.  They were worn with ease as if each actor was accustomed to being dressed in that fashion.   Aunt Eller's costume was suited to a more senior member of the community. The actress looked the part and, although a young person, she was able to take on the slower, more deliberate movements of someone more mature.   She was a most believable older lady who the younger element gravitate towards.   It is interesting that in Oklahoma! there are a number of older as well as young men.  There are no older ladies though other than Aunt Eller.

The set as the show opened was of the exterior of the home of Aunt Eller and Laurey which for the second act was moved to stage left.  The set was straightforward and scene changes did not impact the flow of the show.  The Surrey that takes Laurey and Curly to the railroad station was quite beautiful and drew a gasp from the audience.  Lighting and sound effects were good.  The fight scenes were well choreographed, especially the one culminating in the death of Jud.  The singing required for the older musicals is quite different from the more modern shows.  The young people in Centre Stage coped with this admirably.  The singing was a joy to listen to.

This was an impressively presented musical.  Congratulations to everyone involved.  

Joyce

 

 

 

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