Theatre Royal Drury Lane – until 20th August 2024
Reviewed by Ava Clarkson
4****
The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is the perfect venue to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! In 1947, Oklahoma! opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, where it ran for 1,548 performances
Oklahoma! was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first musical together and has proved a much-loved favourite with catchy songs such as “Oh what a beautiful morning” and its title song “Oklahoma!” The musical is set in 1906 on a farm in Oklahoma and tells the story of the farm owners’ niece, Laurey and her courtship by two love rivals, cowboy Curly McLain and farmhand Jud – a loner who is obsessive and aggressive in his advances towards Laury and his actions towards Curly. A second romantic storyline plays out in comedic style between cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie.
Curly is played by Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) and Laurey is played by Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins). They are joined by Christina Bianco who plays Ado Annie and Jordan Shaw as her love interest Will Parker. Aunt Eller is played by 2-time Olivier Award winner Joanna Riding (Sondheim’s Old Friends and Carousel). Other prominent cast members are Tosh Wanogho-Maud as Jud Fry, Irvine Iqbal as Ali Hakim, Nicole-Lily Baisden as Gertie, and Sebastien Torkia as Andrew.
As the concert starts, we are treated to a musical interlude by the 28-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Ben Glassberg. The music transports you back to the black and white era of Sunday matinees and soothes you as the orchestra displays its amazing talents. The stage is split in levels so that the orchestra are higher than the performance area. This allows us to see them as very much part of the show. The actors move between the musicians, and we see their inclusion within the performance.
The performance is true to story and takes us through the journey of Curley and Laurey as they tease each other and flirt while Aunt Eller looks on knowingly. This is all leading to the Box Social Dance – the event of the season – which includes an auction of food hampers prepared by the ladies to raise Monday for a schoolhouse. The menfolk bid to win a basket and eat lunch with the lady who prepared it. While most of the story is playful and fun, with much loved songs and amazing dance routines, including Tap and Ballet, there is a sinister under story where farmhand Jud is trying to win the hand of Laurey and take her away from Curley. The “dream ballet” sequence is emotive and shows Laureys struggles with her feelings for both men trying to win her affection.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration of Oklahoma! in the early 1900’s was groundbreaking. It was seen as the first successful truly unified musical, in which all creative elements worked together to support the story. This performance has done the original justice, with the production directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Bill Deamer.
It’s hard to re-create a classic, but with the amazing vocals of Phil Dunster and cast, this is truly a musical where orchestra, cast, songs and dancing are fully integrated. They flow seamlessly throughout and evoke laughter as well as sadness. The characters are endearing and feel familiar. The songs are well known and lots of toe tapping and clapping can be heard throughout the theatre. The show is given a well-deserved standing ovation, with the biggest round of applause given to the orchestra who truly shine throughout.
Oklahoma! in Concert will play three performances only at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 19-20 August 2024.