Music Monday: Oklahoma

I’m sitting in the foyer of the State Theatre Centre, excited to see a preview of Oklahoma at Black Swan State Theatre Co.

There is a feeling of excitement and celebration all around me, as friends and strangers alike greet each other, all happy to be back in the theatre after what seems like the longest year. And everyone seems very mindful that most of the world is still unable to go to the theatre, so many theatres worldwide are still dark and desolate at this time.

Interval. There is energy, vibrancy and some fabulous singing in this reimagining of Oklahoma. The production seems to have taken inspiration from the now famous Circle in the Square production in New York. Except that this reimagining has Curly and Laurie as two girls and Aunt Eller played quite gender neutral. But no lines have been changed, so Curly is still referred to as ‘he’. It is slightly confusing- or perhaps deliberately unsettling. Or maybe they simply couldn’t get the rights to alter the words.

The star of the show for me is the music arranging. The songs are the same but the orchestration is in bluegrass style. It’s very appealing and appropriate. Jud Fry’s “Lonely Room” which always feels completely different from any other song in the show, is wonderful in this arrangement. The tension is heightened by the orchestration, and further by the actor singing from offstage with video projections into the smokehouse.

End of show. As we left the theatre, the famous mock courtroom scene carried extra resonance in the current American political climate.

This show is really worth seeing. Nine actors cover all the roles and ensemble with some backup vocals from the band. You will love it - or perhaps, long for the original version- but you won’t be unaffected by it.