Theater Reviews

Apr 22, 2006 - Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" in Reno - Oh, what a beautiful show!

By Jack Neal

Rodgers and Hammerstein's great musical "Oklahoma!" has been with us for over six decades. Given a worthwhile production it s always terrific. Given the kind of superlative production that opened in Reno last night (4/21/06), "Oklahoma!" is still the sensational musical that thrilled audiences when it made its Broadway debut at the St. James Theatre March 31, 1943.

The rest, as the old cliche goes, is history.

The "Oklahoma! " production gracing the stage at Reno's Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is a close proximity spin-off on the "Oklahoma!" choreographed by Susan Stroman and directed by Trevor Nunn that took Broadway by storm and got ecstatic reviews during the 2002 season. This time out with this road-show presentation Ginger Thatcher has recreated Stroman's dances and Fred Hanson has duplicated Nunn s direction.

The results are thrilling.

My only request, and it's one I'll make as long as I'm around, is that a great musical deserves a great pit orchestra - something most touring shows simply do not provide any more. The last full-scale, 28-piece orchestra - such as one might hear in New York - was last heard here with "The Producers " two seasons ago. That was a demand by the "The Producers" producers. The positive impact on that production was extensive. The seven-piece orchestra adroitly and sensitively conducted by Kasey RT Graham that accompanies "Oklahoma!" in Reno is top drawer in every way, as are the synthesized orchestrations by William David Brohn. But as good as they are, they don't add up to the sumptuous sounds of music this stunningly splendid production deserves.

But if Curly, the handsome cowboy and heartthrob of Laurey, who gets the show rolling with a memorable "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin", "Oklahoma!" as it is, is an oh, what a beautiful show. And if "A Chorus Line's" Cassie can say about all the gypsies who dance in that fabulous show whether they make the final cut or not, "They're all wonderful, then the same thing can be said of each and every one of the 28 players who make this "Oklahoma!" sing, dance and soar to the heights. They are all, each and every one, wonderful.

Handsome and splendid at all he does - dance, sing and act - Spencer Plachy just may be the best Curly ever. And that places Plachy is some very distinguished company - Alfred Drake, Gordon MacRae and Hugh Jackman, to mention but three. Jessica Lavin is a lovely Laurey. She sings gloriously - an exquisite "Out of My Dreams" - and dances, as does the entire cast, elegantly, and exuberantly.

Pat Sibley scores wonderfully as Aunt Eller, a role Charlotte Greenwood made her own in the the movie version. Now Sibley has made the role her own. Edgy, down to earth and warm, Sibley's Aunt Eller has just a enough Majorie Main at its core to make Aunt Eller as irascible as she is kindhearted and sweet. Andrew Lebon does a new spin on Jud Fry, the show's villain. In Lebon's capable hands and rich baritone, Jud takes on a sadness at being challenged at love like no other Jud I've experienced. Lebon's Jud is a revelation and brings a humanity to this "Oklahoma! " that gives it even more depth than it's had before.

As the road peddler of exotic goods, Cord Elam, Jeff Brooks is great fun and delivers his lines with perfect timing. As Ado Annie, the magnetic Sarah Shahinian just cain't say no to a delightfully pointed punch line or a comedically phrased tune. Shahinian couldn't be better. And Ado Annie's formidable daddy, the gun-totin' and hilariously direct Andrew Carnes, is not about to see his little girl taken advantage of. Gordon Gray is Ado Annie's Big Daddy and he s A-OK. In the rope wrangler role of Will Parker, Ralph Petruccelli is both a find and gold mine. He delivers the goods and then some for an absolutely winning performance.

But, then, all performances in this presentation are brought off by wnners, too many of them to name as they should be named and mentioned as they should be mentioned. Perhaps it's enough to say each makes a memorable contribution to a memorable production.

Kudos as always to a musical score that sports such a long list of hits as "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin". "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top, "Kansas City, "I Cain't Say No", "Many a New Day", "People Will Say We're in Love", and the rousing "Oklahoma". Our deep gratitude goes to Rodgers and Hammerstein. Gratitude also to the show's original choreographer, Agnes de Mille, for making the music of "Oklahoma!" dance; and to Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs, on which "Oklahoma!" is based.

The Thatcher choreography, the Hanson direction, the handsome Anthony Ward set and costume designs, the radiant David Hersey lighting designs, the disciplined Brian Ronan sound design, and the thoroughly professional work of conductor Kasey RT Graham makes this NETworks production of "Oklahoma!" a runaway hit at the young old age of 63.

"Oklahoma!" can be seen at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, Friday, April 21 (2006) at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 22 (2006) at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 23 (2006) at 2 and 7 p.m. For information call 775-686-6600.