[NEohioPAL]Berko review: OKLAHOMA (Palace Theatre)/Broadway Series Preview

[Roy Berko]

JOYOUS ‘OKLAHOMA!’ SWEEPS INTO PALACE THEATRE;
2005-2006 BROADWAY SERIES ANNOUNCED

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


The historical role of  the musical ‘OKLAHOMA! is
well-known.  When it opened on March 31, 1943 it
became the first book musical play.  It not only had a
meaningful story line that swept throughout the entire
play, but the lyrics and the dancing all integrated
into the story.  Before then, with the exception of
SHOW BOAT, which was really an operetta, no musical
show had really used this technique.

Besides the integration,, ‘OKLAHOMA!’ laid the
structural foundation for musical plays that would
follow it.  There was a major love story (in
‘OKLAHOMA!’ Curly and Laurey, in ‘CAROUSEL,’ Billy and
Julie, in ‘ANNIE GET YOUR GUN,’ Frank and Annie)
supported by a couple who served as the comic relief
(in ‘OKLAHOMA!’ Will and Ado Annie, in ‘CAROUSEL,’ Mr.
Snow and Carrie, in ‘ANNIE GET YOUR GUN,’ Tommy and
Winnie).  

It also set the format for the first act to end with a
conflict that the audience wouldn’t find out the
results of unless the audience came back for the
second act.  For example, in ‘OKLAHOMA!’  the dream
ballet, the questionis:  Would Laurie’s fantasy that
her two suitors would have a conflict with one of them
killed come true?  In “MY FAIR LADY,’ would Eliza be
found out to be a fake when she made her societal
debut?  

Another Rogers and Hammerstein contribution as
developed in ‘OKLAHOMA!’ was the major theme of the
musical being highlighted by a key song.  In
‘OKLAHOMA!’ it’s “The Farmer and the Cowman” which
outlines the formation of the future of the territory
becoming a state and the need for universal
understanding.  In ‘SOUTH PACIFIC’ it’s “You Have to
Be Carefully Taught,” the song that explains the basis
for prejudice.  In ‘THE KING AND I,’ “It’s a
Puzzlement” is an inquiry into the differences between
cultures. 

Other interesting facts surround this culture changing
musical.  Its original backers saw a 2500% return on
their investment.  It received not only a Pulitzer
Prize, but two Academy Awards, induction into the
Grammy Awards Hall of Fame and a special Tony Award. 
It’s original touring production lasted ten-and-a-half
years and encompassed every State in the Union while
being seen by over 10 million people.  It was the
first Broadway musical to be commemorated in a U.S.
postage stamp and is the only Broadway show with a
tune that became a state song.

A little know fact is that the show’s original title
was ‘AWAY WE GO!’.  The name ‘OKLAHOMA!’ was
substituted a week before the show opened when the
song “Boys and Girls Like You and Me,”which was
intended to be a duet between Curly and Laurey, was
dropped from the second act, and a choral number was
added.  The name of the choral number?  Yes,
“Oklahoma.”

The production which is now appearing at the Palace
Theatre in Playhouse Square is a non-union staging. 
This traditionally has meant bad news for local
attenders of the Broadway series.  Fortunately, this
cast makes up for its lack of experience with
enthusiasm, good voices, focused acting and some
wonderful dancing.

Show highlights include a raucous staging of “Kansas
City,” a fine version of “Many A New Day,” a playful
“The Farmer and the Cowman” and a brilliantly
conceived “Out of My Dreams.” The latter is the plot
advancing ballet in which Ginger Thatcher has
recreated choreographer Susan Stroman’s dance moves to
include the lead actor and actress performing the
dream sequence.  (In Agnes DeMille’s 1943 choreography
a pair of dancers stepped in to represent Laurey and
Frank).  This new interpretation makes the dance much
stronger as we actually experiencing the foreshadowing
of what is to come in the climactic conflict scene
near the end of the play.

Julie Burdick makes a spunky and charming Laurey.  She
has a beautiful voice and dances well.  Jeremiah
James’s version of Curly is a little to down-home
twangy and automatic, but he has a big voice.  J.
Michael Zygo is a dancing and gymnastic machine who
makes Will Parker a delight.  Carrie Love tries hard
as Ado Annie, but she is just too much style and
little true substance.  She falls far short of the
interpretation of the role by local dancer/actress
Mary Ann Black in a Porthouse production of the show a
couple of seasons ago.

Ready for a trivia question?  Who played Ali Hakim in
the original production of ‘OKLAHOMA!’ and what was
his Cleveland connection?  The answer.......Joseph
Buloff.  Buloff was a well known Yiddish theatre actor
who went on to star in ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ television
show.  He often made appearances in productions at the
Jewish Community Center of Cleveland.  He directed
their productions of ‘FIFTH SEASON’ and ‘THE WALL.’

Sorah Wadia, who plays Ali in this production is a
total delight.  Pat Sibley, who is a little young to
be portraying Laurey’s Aunt Eller, generally does a
nice vocal and acting job.  Andre Loban is properly
understated as the menacing Jud Fry.  The dancing and
singing choruses are excellent.

The small orchestra, which is supplemented by
electronic support, lacks the full orchestra richness
that the Rogers and Hammerstein music demands, but it
is adequate.

The sets, costumes and lighting all work well.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Every once in a while a
theatre-goer needs a shot of Rodgers and Hammerstein
to make the world seem like a better place or allow
newbies to gain an appreciation of what true musical
theatre is all about.  The production now on stage at
the Palace is a fine way to relive good past
experiences or lose your R and H virginity 

‘OKLAHOMA!”runs Tuesdays through Sundays at the Palace
Theatre in Playhouse Square until May 15 .  Tickets
can be obtained by calling 216-241-6000, 800-766-6048
or going on line to www.playhousesquare.com. 


‘HAIRSPRAY’ AND 2005-2006 BROADWAY SERIES

Tickets are still available for the delightful
‘HAIRSPRAY’ which is coming to Playhouse Square Center
June 14-26.  The show which is still running to sold
out houses in New York, is fantastic fun.  It was
called “completely irresistible!” by Broadway’s most
influential critic and I can attest to his evaluation!
 For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go on line to
www.playhousesquare.com.

Playhouse Square has unveiled their 2005-2006 Broadway
series line-up.  Productions include:  ‘LOVE JANIS,’
which will be staged at the Hanna Theatre in a limited
run from November through January; ‘LITTLE SHOP OF
HORRORS,’ at the Palace from November 8-20; ‘EVITA,’
from January 10-22 at the Palace; ‘BOMBAY DREAM’ from
March 21-April 2 at the Palace, ‘DOCTOR DOLITTLE,’
April 18-30 at the Palace, ‘LITTLE WOMEN,’ March 9-21
at the Palace; and ‘WICKED’ at the State from June
21-July 9.  ‘WICKED,’ which is the big draw of the
series, is still playing to 100% capacity in New York.
 It is a production by the ARACA Group, composed of
Clevelanders Hank Unger and Michael and Matthew Rego.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


		
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