Reviewed by Tony Annicone
“Oklahoma” is the classic Broadway musical that launched Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration back in 1943. So to celebrate North Shore Music Theatre’s 64th season, owner and producer Bill Hanney brings it in as his opening musical of his 10th season at this historic theatre. The story is about Curly, the cowboy, and Laurey, the farmer, who pretend they dislike each other until another unsavory suitor, handyman Jud, makes a play for her. Curly then becomes the hero who must step up to save the damsel in distress. Laurey is guided by her strong willed Aunt Eller. She also is supported by her flirty friend, Ado Annie, who likes to keep many beaus on a string, including handsome, dancing Will Parker who has seen the big city lights and the womanizing peddler, Ali Hakim. Throw in Annie’s strong willed father, Andrew and a singing and dancing chorus that will knock your socks off and you have the ingredients for this sensational high energy musical extravaganza.
Director Charles Repole makes this musical new and fresh with his vision and keen eye for casting the right people in the right roles. Contemporary audiences observe how Jud’s homicidal tendencies were around back in the early part of last century as well as today. Mark Hartman taught the glorious score to the talented cast with his marvelous 14 piece orchestra. Mara Newbery Greer creates stunning choreography for them especially in the Dream Ballet where Cameron Turner and Bella Califiura captivate the audience with their expert and exquisite dancing prowess as Dream Curly and Laurey. The can-can section with the phenomenal lifts and the acrobatic prowess of the cast members in “Farmer and Cowmen” and “Oklahoma” are astounding, too. The scene design by Kyle Dixon and the multitude of gorgeous costumes by Kelly Baker add the finishing touches to the blockbuster opening musical of the season which received a spontaneous standing ovation.
The leading performers have fantastic chemistry with each other. Blake Price, who looks like a young, dark haired Matthew McConaughey and Madison Claire Parks, who resembles and sings like a young Shirley Jones, portray Curly and Laurey splendidly. He captures the brash behavior and swagger of a bronco busting cowboy who becomes tamed by his girlfriend in a love/hate relationship which finally blossoms into true love. His first entrance during “”Beautiful Morning” on the back of a big beautiful professional trained horse named Patrick, starts the show with a bang and the rest of the show lives up to this moment. He handles the tongue twisting “Surrey” song as well as the gorgeous ballad with Parks called “People Will Say We’re in Love.” Parks’ voice soars off the charts to a high A in the reprise of the love song but her coloratura soprano is also heard in “Many a New Day” and “Out of my Dreams” with the same emotions they need. Price and Parks portrayals of this young people in love will captivate you thoroughly.
Sean Bell is a hoot as the dumbbell, Will Parker who can’t keep the fifty dollars to win his true love from her overbearing father. His tap dance number with the boys in “Kansas City” stops the show with its brilliant execution. I last reviewed Bell as Not Dead Fred and Herbert in “Spamalot” at NSMT back in 2016. Melissa Carlile-Price, a lanky red head plays the naughty and bawdy, Ado Annie, who sings three verses of the comic gem “I Cain’t Say No” and with Bell, sings “All or Nothing” where they seem to tame each other’s wild libidos. Tall, dark and handsome, Alex Levin captures the true essence of the obsessive behavior and stalker compulsion of this tortured creature which ultimately leads to his demise. He is one of the best Juds I have ever seen. Levin’s phenomenal bass-baritone voice mesmerizes the audience in “Lonely Room” which is the precursor of “Soliloquy” from “Carousel.” He and Price also sing the comic “Pore Jud” which lightens the tense confrontation scene in the smoke house.
Susan Cella, whom I first saw in “No, No Nanette” back in 1974 at Theatre by the Sea, shines as Aunt Eller. She captures the feisty behavior of this strong frontier woman and delivers her comic one liners with ease. Cella also does an amazing split during “The Farmer and the Cowman” dance number. I last reviewed her as Mrs. Brice in “Funny Girl” here in 2016 and she does an amazing job as the strong mother figure. Other comic performers include Tom Gleadow as Andrew Carnes, Annie’s overprotective father who threatens Cooper Grodin as the womanizing Peddler. The former sings “The Farmer and Cowman” while Grodin sings “It’s a Scandal” with the men. They sell their comic lines with ease. Kudos to the singing and dancing chorus for their incredible work in this musical. I have many happy memories when I assistant directed it back in 1980 and when I played Andrew Carnes at Mill River Dinner Theatre in 1998. So for a high energy blockbuster musical, be sure to catch “Oklahoma” at North Shore Music Theatre before the Surrey with the Fringe on Top leaves town for good. It is the must see show of this season.
OKLAHOMA (4 to 16 June)
North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA
1(978)232-7200 or www.nsmt.org
