3:02pm Wednesday 2nd June 2010
By Alexandra Womack
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma
Theatre Royal, Bath
A SMALL town in the territory of Oklahoma is the setting for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical of the same name.
Written first as a play in 1931, it is said to be far deeper than merely a teenage romance as playwright Lynn Riggs took inspiration from the land rush of the late 19th century and the tumultuous times native American tribes have been through.
It is supposed to dissect a love of the land through the dark and dominating presence of farm hand Jud Fry (Pete Gallagher) but this touring production by Martin Dodd didn’t give audiences much to think about.
The recipe for a stomping show was there; a classic score by masters of their art featuring well-known songs Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, People Will Say We’re In Love and of course Oklahoma, prolific performer Marti Webb and a cast of up and coming enthusiastic actors.
Mark Evans as Curly gave a stand-out performance as the muscle-bound local hero, and Michelle Crook, (Ado Annie) Joseph Pitcher (Will Parker) and Vas Constanti (Ali Hakim) kept the laughs coming with their unlikely love triangle.
But unfortunately it left me feeling somewhat flat. Perhaps it was the dated storyline or lacklustre ensemble performances, but something about this show made Oklahoma only OK.
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