Rhett Guter as Curly in Goodspeed’s Oklahoma! Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
by Mark G. Auerbach
Goodspeed Musicals’ fresh take on the old Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma! has so much going for it, from thoughtful direction by Jenn Thompson, who staged last season’s revisit of Bye Bye Birdie to terrific choreography by Katie Spelman made even better by Dan DeLange’s orchestral arrangements and David Chase’s dance arrangements. Set designer Wilson Chin fits the expansive Oklahoma prairie onto Goodspeed’s tiny stage. Tracy Christensen’s cpstumes are colorful, and Philip S. Rosenberg’s lighting is perfection. Add to this some great performances, and Oklahoma! is youthfully exuberant. It’s hard to believe that it’s been around for almost 75 years.
Oklahoma!, based on Lynn Riggs’ play Green Grow The Lilacs, launched the collaboration of Richard Rodgers, who had primarily worked with Lorenz Hart, and Oscar Hammerstein II, who had worked with notables including Jerome Kern. This union brought other Broadway blockbusters including Carousel, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Oklahoma!, originally titled Away We Go, premiered at New Haven’s Shubert Theatre in 1943, got reworked, and opened on Broadway to become a smash hit. A film adaptation was made in 1955, and the show has been revived multiple times, including a Broadway production introducing Hugh Jackman to American audiences.
The company in Goodspeed’s Oklahoma! Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
Oklahoma!, in musical theatre terms, is also historic, because it was the first major “book musical” after the 1927 Showboat, where the book, songs, and dances are fully integrated. It was also the right musical for wartime America, with its celebration of Americana, the pioneering spirit and optimism. Oklahoma! takes place in a boom area before statehood, as people seek better opportunities. There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow, and sentiment abounds.
Oscar Hammerstein’s book is seamless, and although it has sentimental undertones, and some old-fashioned moments, Jenn Thompson’s staging emphasizes the challenges that many pioneers had to adjusting to a new life chasing The American Dream. The Rodgers and Hammerstein score is one gem after another, and some of the less familiar tunes, like “Lonely Room”, a ballad for the outcast Jud Fry, and the Dream Ballet, are great listening.
Jenn Thompson uses the entire theatre to wrap the audience into the show. When Curly, a cowboy, sings the beautiful opening number “Oh What A Beautiful Morning”, he’s walking through the orchestra section. Katie Spelman had big shoes to fill choreographing a musical whose original choreographer, Agnes deMille, was hard to beat. The dance is both high spirited and balletic, and her Dream Ballet could stand alone in any ballet company repertory. The entire company moved with elegance and high kicks.
Rhett Guter as Curly and Samantha Bruce as Laurey in Goodspeed’s Oklahoma! Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
Oklahoma! has some terrific performances. Rhett Guter, Conrad Birdie in last season’s Bye Bye Birdie, is superb as Curly, the cowboy. He’s a triple threat–good singer, fine actor, and great dancer, and he’s perfectly paired with Samantha Bruce, who plays his love interest Laurey. Gizel Jimenez was a funny Ado Annie, opposite Alex Stewart, understudy for the role of Will Parker, who stepped into the part on the performance we saw. Matt Faucher was a compelling Jud, the show’s villain. He brought subtext to the role, and he made Jud into a poignant character.
I didn’t expect to like Oklahoma!, because the last couple of productions I’ve seen have felt too yesteryear. Goodspeed’s Oklahoma! is vibrant and fun.
Oklahoma! has been extended through September 27. The Sunday matinee on September 24 will be a sensory-friendly performance.
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Goodspeed Musicals presents Oklahoma!. Music by Richard Rodgers. Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs. Original dances by Agnes deMille Directed by Jenn Thompson. Choreography by Katie Spelman. Musical direction by Michael O’Flaherty. Scenic design by Wilson Chin. Costume design by Tracy Christensen. Lighting design by Philip Rosenberg. Sound design by Jay Hilton. Orchestrations by Dan DeLange. Through September 27..Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, CT. For tickets: 860-873-8668 or www.goodspeed.org.
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
