The Story
Oklahoma! Revisiting a Classic
The much anticipated William & Mary Theatre production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Americana classic Oklahoma! has finally opened on the Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall’s main stage. With the legacy of both the original productions and the London National Theatre revival on their backs, the cast had a tall order to fill, one that they generally pull off with a show people interested in musical theater will want to see. The audience will be especially enthused by the stunning choreography done by Denise Damon Wade and the scenic design coordinated and envisioned by Matthew Allar.
If you plan to attend, get to the theater on time since the overture began sharply at eight; also, as anyone familiar with this granddaddy of the modern book musical knows, Rodgers and Hammerstein wasted no time launching into their tuneful score. Arrive ten minutes late and you'll miss the majestic revelation of the gorgeous scenery, which is simple but elegant and showcases the depth of character for which the entire cast strives, and a wonderful rendition of â€"Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’.â€
The entire cast was truly at its best during the large numbers. It was pleasantly surprising to see that the ensemble cast as well as the main players were acrobatic and skillfully trained. The "Kansas City" number sets off sparks in the first act with fantastic tumbling and flipping, all without taking away from the subsidiary romantic triangle between Will, Andrew Collie, ’11, Ado Annie, Nora Ives, ’11, and Ali Akim, Miles Drawdy, ’14, a Persian peddler, that plays off each other’s comedic strengths as they achieve a relatively delightful balance of slapstick humor and genuine character sincerity as they swirl around stage, living up the atmosphere.
Indeed, the dancing throughout the production was well done, and Megan Asano’s, ’14, turn as Laurey showed her to be not only a great singer but a beautifully trained dancer. The â€"Dream Ballet†was especially stunning and had the audience leaning in, trying to glean as much as they could from the beauty and elegance on stage. It is radiantly beautiful in its dramatic evolution from dream into nightmare.
While Oklahoma! was a precursor of Roger and Hammerstein's more sophisticated and involved musical stories, it nevertheless added an unusual dark undercurrent to its basic romantic plot, one that the director has chosen to play discreetly. Kevin Place, ’14, plays Jud Fry with great sensitivity as the outsider who is never accepted by the territory people. Curley, Eric Leon Nold, ’11, and Jud's rivalry for the affections of Laurey is well played, Eric infusing the right amount of charisma into Curley so he doesn’t come off entirely cruel, but the finale fight is lacking in believability, and the choice to make Jud a pathetic outsider doesn’t play to the cast’s advantage. It culminates in a fight to the death that leaves the audience feeling caught between empathy for Jud and joy for the happy couple.
On the other hand, the opening image of Aunt Eller (played with hilarious, no-nonsense charm and energy by Kelsey Schneide, ’14) alone on that vast stage as she churns butter immediately establishes the sense of the still desolate and developing frontier.
As already mentioned, Ms. Gabrielle stands out as a fantastic dancer and a singer. In fact, all of the ladies are extraordinarily well cast, showcasing the range of emerging talent of the College’s freshman and sophomore classes as well as the range of talent from the junior and senior classes. By the same token, Eric Leon Nold was fun to watch in his role as Curley, and he and Megan Asano certainly have good chemistry on stage. However, the male ensemble seemed less connected than the female one, and if the show could benefit from anything, it would be great unity and believability on stage. All of the men are likeable, but the ladies definitely outshine their male counterparts in this production. Still, the show is a grand showcase of the musical and artistic talent the College has to offer.