Director:
Musical Director:
Opened:
Closed:
Venue:
Music By:
Lyrics By:
Book By:
Synopsis
Time: Summer 1906
Place: Indian Territory (became Oklahoma in late 1906)
In the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the twentieth century, two young cowboys vie with an evil ranch hand and a traveling peddler for the hearts of the women they love.
On a small farm stead. just outside the town of Claremore, this musical tells the romantic story of two couples. Cowboy Curly McLain who has eyes firmly set for farm girl Laurey Williams and cowboy Will Parker who is besotted by his flirtatious fiancé Ado Annie. Laurey is a young girl living on a farm with aunt Eller. There is another living on the farm, a hard working but slightly sinister hired hand Jud. Curley and Laurey both have trouble admitting their feelings for each other.
Curly is fixed on taking “Miss Laurey Williams” to the Box social dance but Laurey is playing very hard to get and this gets her into serious trouble when she accepts an invitation from Jud to take her to the dance. This leads to all sorts of problems. Together, she and Curly have to do something to save their relationship and keep Jud from doing something terrible. Woven into this plot is the life of Ado Annie and her goings on with boyfriend Will Parker and smooth talking peddler Ali Hakim. Will has just returned from Kansas City having won fifty dollars cash in a competition. Ado Annie’s father has promised Will that if he can raise 50 dollars cash then he can have her.
However, Will turns this into a complicated matter as he keeps inadvertently spending the money. Also Ado Annie has eyes for the smooth talking Persian peddler Ali Hakim who is always trying to take her to a hotel in Claremore where they will find “paradise”. She mistakes this to be a marriage proposal and then even more problems ensue. Does Curley get the girl of his dreams and does Ado Annie take up with Will or run away with the peddler? A fabulous musical with
very well known songs like “Oh what a beautiful morning”, “Many a New Day”, “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No”, “All or Nuthin”, “Kansas City” and of course “Oklahoma”.
Review
Review by Vicki Avery
Noda District 9
The timeless musical Oklahoma will always appeal to audiences and I know that the audience, though small, thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the evening I attended. The outstanding score was played with skill by an effective orchestra under the expert baton of MD Peter Farrell. Never to loud it was just punchy enough to get our feet tapping in the company numbers. Unfortunately there were a few issues with timing from some of the principals but they quickly got back on track and finished the number confidently.
The wealth of characters were all well cast and characterized in their roles effectively making Oklahoma interesting from start to finish. Like many, I never tire of this iconic musical no matter how many times I see it!
Simon Latter, excellent as Curly gave a confident performance his strong voice sealing success as soon as he sang the opening bars and with Louise Bateman as Laurie they were perfectly matched.
Maureen Davies was superb as a feisty Aunt Eller, bringing light and shade to every scene, lifting it to new heights and demonstrating what an experienced actress she is.
Spirited and with spot on comedy delivery, Tammy Wall was a great Ado Annie. This performance was packed full of energy and I enjoyed it tremendously. Well done.
Other fine performances were given by Barny Shergold as Ali Hackim and the talented Tim Spink as Will Parker. Elle-Louise Berrie made a perfect Gertie Cummings getting that terrible laugh just right.
Ray Beckman was perfect as Andrew Carnes. Excellent direction here proving that less is more and good timing makes casual perfection!
Jud Fry was brilliantly played by accomplished actor Peter Sayers giving a quiet menace until his powerful and explosive solo song. I would have liked him to look a lot dirtier until the auction scene. Personal choice but he still came over scary.
The small ensemble worked hard and made an excellent sound. I particularly enjoyed The Farmer and The Cowman. It was full of smiling faces and lots of energy.
Choreography was appropriate for the company and cleverly executed so that everyone appeared to achieve what they set out to do.
Costumes on the whole were suitable for the era but Laurey’s cut off jeans seemed somewhat out of place. Perhaps dungarees would have been better.
Fight sequences were effective and well designed. The set, though minimalistic, worked well giving the company plenty of space for the dance numbers.
Oklahoma is one of my favourite shows and I cannot help but enjoy myself whenever I go to review it. Thank you for an enjoyable evening and I look forward to being invited again in the future.
DATE 17th November 2016
SOCIETY The Welwyn Thalians
VENUE Hawthorne Theatre Welwyn
TYPE OF PRODUCTION Musical
DIRECTOR Amanda Sayers
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Peter Farrell
CHOREOGRAPHER Amanda Sayers and team
| Aunt Eller | Maureen Davies |
| Curly McClain | Simon Latter |
| Laurey Williams | Louise Bateman |
| Will Parker | Tim Spink |
| Ado Annie Carnes | Tammy Wall |
| Ali Hackim | Barny Shergold |
| Jud Fry | Peter Sayers |
| Andrew Carnes | Ray Beckman |
| Gertie Cummings | Elle-Louise Benie |
| Fred | Brian King |
| Ike Skidmore | Vincent Clemmens |
| Slim | Martin Lester |
| Ellen | Gillian Shaw |
| Kate | Angela Monaghan |
| Ensemble | Vikki Colins, Jane Thom, Lauren Ryall, Colleen Town, Jodie Mardlin, Adam Simmons, Vincent Clemmens, Tina Ravera, Chris Blyth, Peter Dunhalll & Avril Robinson |
| Production Director | Amanda Sayers |
| Production Assistant | Avril Robinson |
| Choreography | Amanda Sayers, Alison Downes, Tammy Wall |
| Fight Choreographer | Elle-Louise Berrie |
| Musical Director | Peter Farrell |
| Stage Manager | Jackie Radford |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Alison Downes |
| Stage Crew | John Thorn, Mike Smith, Simon Payne (Hawthone) |
| Costumes | Tammy Wall & Jane Thom |
| Prompt | Angela Dunham |
| Properties Manager | Vanessa Baker |
| Properties Team | Katherine Brassett & India Mason-Mills |
| Lighting Design | Cameron Biggs |
| Lighting Operator | Rose Oldershaw |
| Sound Operator | Chris Prosho |
| Fly's Operator | Paul Leslie |
| Hawthorne Theatre Manager | Mark Woolman |
| Hawthorne Theatre Technical Manager | Julian Brooks |
| Conductor | Peter Farrell |
| Clarinets | Chris Pettit, Sue Pettit |
| Flute | Matt Smith |
| Trombone | Ian Daniels |
| Horn | Simon Cove |
| Trumpets | Tim Welch, Ellen King |
| Bass | Peter Neville |
| Piano | Dave Meek |
| Percussion | Chris Gray |
