Oklahoma


The Evening Telegraph - September 2003

'CAIN'T SAY NO' TO TICKETS FOR THIS SHOW
Review by Jan Souter

Tread the Boards Yough Music Theatre Group took to the stage last night with their production of Rogers and Hammerstein's time-tested Oklahoma!, writes Jan Souter.

This well-loved family show, embellished with many original ideas, features a cast of 58.

It is a casting triumph for directors Brian and Agnes Boardman, with each main character suitable and convincingly portrayed.

The action take place in Indian territory not long after the turn of the century. Indefatigable Aunt Eller, played last night by Genna Corrigan, sits by her porch churning butter.

Enter Curly (Greg Davidson), a ranch hand, who has come to call in the hope of seeing Eller's niece Laurey (played last night by Amy Brown). The pair are smitten with each other but too proud and stubborn to admit it.

Jud Fry, Laurey's hired hand, announced he will take her to the box social and because she is scared of Jud (Brian Boardman), who has a morose, vindictive temperament, she is too frightened to turn him down.

Meantime, Laurey's friend, Ado Annie (the effervescent Tricia Stewart), is caught between to fellas, Will Parker (Scott McRuvie, and Persian peddler Ali Hakim (David Miller), while her father Andrew Carnes (George Irvine) wants 50 dollars for her hand.

This colourful show, comprising high drama and high spirits, is enthusiastically performed throughout, not least by the adult extras in the fight scenes.

The singing is excellent, the dance routines superb and the band, under musical director Andrew Grier, although a bit loud in parts, certainly know their score.

For a whooping family night out you simply 'cain't say no' to tickets for this lively howdown, which runs nightly at 7.15, until Saturday.



© D C Thomson & Co., Ltd 2003

Want to see the scanned review?



Return to shows