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Peer Reviews
Oklahoma!
Reviewed by Deborah Ward
Entire contents are copyright © 2007,
Deborah Ward. All rights reserved.
What can one say about a 64-year-old production
that hasn’t already been said? When everyone
in the audience knows every word to all of the
Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes, and cheerily smiles
while biting their tongue trying not to sing along,
what is left to say? Ahh, the music, beautifully
on key in harmony, the dancing, enough to make
even those who abhor musicals smile, and the acting,
yes, there is acting betwixt musical numbers,
it's best to just say that it was opening night.
It was highly evident that the entire cast of Oklahoma! had
rehearsed endlessly to perfect each note, as the
songs came through like a thunderous Broadway production.
The waltzes, I’ve never seen so
perfectly in step, the two-step, never so lively
and jovial. The leading lady, Laurey (Jessica Ball),
floated flawlessly through her dance numbers and
songs. For those (who undoubtedly are few) who
do not know the story line of Oklahoma!,
Curly (Kyle Durbin) is hopelessly in love with
Laurey, and she with him, but both choose to keep
their love for each other undeclared. While Laurey
toys with the mysterious and dangerous farm hand
Judd in order to keep Curly guessing as to her
wishes, Laurey’s
complete opposite, Ado Annie (Melissa Carlile),
just can’t
say no to any man’s sweet talk and is stuck
in a pickle between her would-be love Will Parker
(Matthew Brennan) and Ali Hakim (Matt Wallace),
a traveling, sometimes con-man, peddler.
But the acting -- yes, those parts in between musicals
numbers -- left a dry night for the evening. If
it were not for the costumes and fake cornstalks,
I would have thought the play could have been set
in New York between friends living in the same
apartment building. There seemed to be no real
tension or teasing between would-be loves or forced
marriages, and the cowboys seemed not to be cowboys
at all. Thanks, therefore, to the saving grace
of Aunt Eller (Carol Tyree Williams), who truly
played the part of life in the midwest, and
Sally Myers-Scott, whose shotgun-wieldin', marriage-bettin’ character
brought true characterization to what it means
to be an Okie.
Oklahoma!
Derby Dinner Playhouse
525 Marriott Drive
Clarksville, IN 47129
Tickets (812) 288-828
http://www.derbydinner.com/
Apr. 3 - May 20, 2007
Posted Apr. 10, 2007
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