I Cain’t Say No to this production! : Oklahoma! Review.

The Riley Smith Theatre was transformed into the rugged Deep South for the three-night run of LUU Musical Theatre Society’s production of Oklahoma! The soft hues of the backdrop emulated the constant rising and setting of the sun, as well as the wooden framework of a barn dominating the stage. A snapshot of the rugged, rural, twentieth century south was perfectly captured. 

Executing the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic was no doubt a difficult feat, with countless amateur productions exuding mediocrity in their adaptations of the popular- and arguably overdone- musical. Director Evie Grattan, however, successfully created a flawless show in which I found myself totally immersed. Each actor offered a nuanced performance, accompanied by pitch-perfect vocals and authentic choreography from the ensemble. The story was well-paced, with each intense moment broken up by scenes of light-hearted fun and witty dialogue, thus giving the audience time to reflect. Whilst I was initially apprehensive about attending such a classic musical, stellar performances injected the- often sluggish- plot with new vigour. 

One of the most notable performances throughout was certainly Tom Grice’s depiction of Curly McClain, whose rich vocals on the iconic track Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ captivated the audience immediately. Grice’s natural stage presence brought new life to the character of the charismatic cowboy, whose playful and earnest moments were executed convincingly.

 His foil is the menacing and tragic Jud Fry, depicted by Louis Mockler. Mockler provides menacing characterisation, whilst also demonstrating the subtleties of his character’s personality. He is not just an antagonist but suffers from internal struggles and psychological complexity. His most poignant moment is evident in Lonely Room, conveying his yearning for human connection and his status as an outsider. The audience is allowed deep insight into Jud’s internal thoughts and feelings through the song, allowing us to see why he resorts to violence. Mockler’s depiction is genuinely sinister, with the intensity of his feelings for Laurey slowly destroying him, due to their unrequited nature. 

Furthermore, Amelia Perry’s portrayal of the headstrong female protagonist Laurey Williams was filled with moments of touching vulnerability, without sacrificing the character’s intrinsic independence and constant defiance of societal norms and expectations for women in the era. Perry’s sweet soprano perfectly reflects Laurey’s conflict and distress, as she finds herself torn between the two suitors. Youthful innocence and courage are presented in a skillful and powerful performance by Perry. Perry’s and Grice’s on-stage chemistry is almost tangible, with their performance of People Will Say We’re In Love being a delightful highlight. 

Katie Crowther’s portrayal of ‘Ado Annie’, whose ditsy midwestern lilt captured the character’s coy promiscuity excellently, offers much-needed moments of comic relief throughout. Crowther’s flirtatious physicality was consistent throughout the musical and paired with her strong vocals, demonstrated real talent. 

Other notable performances include Ali Hakim (Jenny Fullerton) and Will Parker (Chris Bache). The smooth and worldly outsider contrasted with the straightforward, genuine and all-American cowboy contributes hugely to the comic relief of the musical. It provides a welcome contrast to moments of more depth and intensity. 

Aunt Eller is played by Erin Brady, who despite her youthful appearance, perfectly executes the wise and elderly character, on whom much of the community depends. Indeed, her warm accent was one of the best amongst the cast, and marks her as the strong matriarch of the town. 

Ultimately, the entire cast created a compelling show, and an engaging performance of a classic musical which director Evie Grattan should be proud. What could have been a cacophony of cheap Midwest accents turned out to be a sleek and well-executed musical, which indeed has stood the test of time. 

Thank you to LUUMTS for a fantastic evening!

Words By Daisy Morrow