Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! is one of those shows where you go home humming all the tunes. Factor in a confident and well drilled cast and you have a great show. As well as principal roles, it was good to see enough men to give the chorus singing depth and breadth – holding their own against the females. Pairing Lorna Gallacher and Michael Coyne again, this time in very different principal roles of Laurey and Curley, made powerful drama as the sparks between them flew from their first encounter.  The quality of their performance came not just from their delightful singing but from a delivery and rapport that made it as fresh as if I had never seen the show before. No mean feat. Also convincing was Angela Dickinson as the wise down- to-earth Aunt Eller - also dealing with some tricky soprano lines. Chris Brooks revelled in the role of gullible Will Parker and used his experience to support Caillidh Stewart as Ado Annie in her first adult performance. She entertained with her naivety and her bumptious walk and was well cast between the gullible Will and the seemingly worldlier wise Ali Hakim assuredly portrayed by Ronnie Honey.  All three mined the humour of their lines and played off each other splendidly. Grant Webb, also in a first role made a great job of the dark and difficult Jud Fry.  These roles were all ably supported by minor principals such as Charlotte McFarlane as the ear-splitting laughing Gertie and Matt Duncan as the gun toting mercenary father Mr Cairns and by a number of youngsters who gave the whole show a community feel. The seamless change of scenes, the subtle lighting and supportive orchestra contributed to a fine performance. Congratulations all round.

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