Oklahoma!
Dundee Rep Theatre
3rd May – 6th May 2023
Grab your boots and your spurs, “oh it’s a beautiful morning” in Oklahoma!
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! has made its way from Broadway in the flying forties, to amateur theatrical productions worldwide, and finally the Dundee Youth Music Theatre brings it to the Dundee Rep.
A cast comprised of performers ranging in age, from children to adults, all with one common love – musical theatre. When the curtain rises, the heartbeat rises alongside it, too. The routines and the music that you’ve familiarised yourself with for weeks or months, all start to flood back with every person looking at you. The dream is at hand. Focus. The adrenaline rush when the first note of the Overture drops. Then, both your mind and body alike, get lost in the motion; that’s theatre life, baby!
The backdrop of the show is a cloudy sky, using lights of various colours to manipulate the projections, suggesting the respective time of day. Other set pieces include a stove, chairs, a wagon and Jud’s rustic ranch-house. Set in early 20th Century Oklahoma, the narrative captures the audience’s hearts and as the show goes on, not only do they grow to love the characters of Curly McLain, Laurey Williams, Aunt Eller, Ado Annie, Will Parker and even lonely ranch-hand Jud Fry, they also pick up on the recurring tunes, and as a result, become familiar with the progressions and want to sing along by the end.
And when we say; Ee-ee-ow! A-yip-i-o-ee-ay!
We’re only sayin’, You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma, O.K.!
Dundee Youth Music Theatre gave Oklahoma!’s performers an opportunity to perform their perfectly synchronised choreographies, while, impressively, singing along simultaneously. The Dream Ballet dance sequence was particularly impressive, as the whole cast and ensemble were involved in the creation of an extensive and entertaining dance number. The unnerving scene when Jud chased Laurey happened solely with the orchestra’s accompaniment, and the ensemble came together to build a human maze between Laurey and predatory Jud.
The audience couldn’t help but to feel such large amounts of pride for the young performers. The loud applause and standing ovation at the end were well-deserved. Yee-haw!
Oklahoma! is a timeless comedy with darker undercurrents that will have you belly laughing one minute and hanging off your seat in anticipation the next. Oklahoma! was a great success in the forties and will continue to be loved for decades to come. A story of two unrequited love bonds that turn into triangles. To what extent is Curly willing to go to get the girl? Come along to the Dundee Rep between the 3rd – 6th May 2023 to live the musical theatre experience too!
Maria Michael
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