Oklahoma! wowing audiences at Dean Crowe Theatre

David Flynn

The beautiful summer colours of the American south west state of Oklahoma were recreated on stage in the Dean Crowe Theatre last weekend as Athlone Musical Society commenced its eight-day run of the popular musical, which is continuing nightly at the theatre.
The imaginative on-stage lighting depicted the brightness of the Oklahoma sky while the set design helped to create a sense of the cornfields and farm buildings of rural Oklahoma.
Rogers and Hammerstein’s 'Oklahoma’ is set at the turn of the last century and the musical is a traditional rural tale of that time. 
Its songs are familiar to most of us, including 'Oh What a Beautiful Morning’, 'I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No’, and 'The Farmer And The Cowman Should Be Friends’, and of course 'Oklahoma’. 
The two leads Kenneth Kennedy and Audrey O’Meara do a fine job of bringing the old musical to the local public. 'Oklahoma’ had been performed twice before in living memory by Athlone musical society, in 1969 and 1978.
The story is set in the sunny American south west, and it tells of two sets of lovers and of farming life on the plains.  Curley (Kenneth) is a cowboy interested in Laurey (Audrey) but stubbornness keeps them apart. 
Ollie Berry developed his character, farmhand Jud Fry, very well. The part was successfully played on the big screen by Rod Steiger in the 1955 movie, 'Oklahoma’.  Jud’s song 'Lonely Room’ was left out of the movie production, because of the sensitivities of the time, but it’s in this production, and the strong tones given by Ollie, does it great justice.
He performed the role of Jud with intensity, and portrayed a rounded view of the character, which effectively shows the danger of the man.
The second-lead couple, Hilary Orpen as Ado Annie and Ultan Keena as cowboy Will Parker really steal the show because of their singing, Annie’s comic timing, and Will’s energetic dancing.   In fact, the Dean Crowe boards bellow throughout the auditorium thanks to the intense dancing of Will, and the men and women’s chorus.  
Ado Annie is caught up between the affections of Will Parker, and Persian peddler man, Ali Hakim, played by Carlos Fidalgo Romo, who also gave his all to the comic part.  Along the way, Annie sings’ 'I Can’t Say No’. 
The music is a constant presence throughout the show, thanks to Musical Director Enda O’Connor, and the orchestra including long-time society chorus mistress Heather Shine on piano.
Three cast members of 'Oklahoma’ are stalwarts of the Dean Crowe stage, and it was great to see them working together again in the one production.  Joan Larkin, who has acted in nearly every show since 1981, plays Laurey’s Aunt Eller, and does her part dancing and singing and matches the best of them on stage. 
And then there is Alfie and Bugsy playing Ado Annie’s father, and Ike Skidmore respectively.  It was great to see their magic back on stage again with all the new faces of the cast and chorus.  They are great song and dance men, which any cast and chorus can learn from!
From the beginning of the musical, it was obvious that the set was simple but effective. 
Straw, corn and very humble buildings set the stage for rural Oklahoma. Jud’s cabin showed great care had gone into it, with the dark and wooden structure, and pin up photographs on the wall. The picnic scene is full of bright materials, which enhance the sense of colour of the stage.
From the lead actors to the chorus, all the singers are brilliant, and the choreography of the dancing is on the button, with not a step out of place.
The special appearance of a dancer during a dream sequence is really serene and beautiful.  It is a superb dance performance, and one which was not forgotten by the audience. Ray Collins is an Athlone musical stalwart, and was a member of the 1978 'Oklahoma’ cast.  He was very impressed on the opening night with the cast and crew of the 2013 production, and said that it was wonderful to see so many new faces on stage.
“I’m very impressed with Hillary Orpen who plays Ado Annie, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes up for an award for this performance, and I wouldn’t rule out Ultan Keena who plays a great part as Will Parker, maybe he could be up for Best Supporting Actor,” said Ray.  “I have always loved this show anyway, and this production is really marvellous and I like the lighting a lot.”
The reaction of the audience on the night was ecstatic at the songs, and most people sang along with 'Beautiful Morning’ and the 'Oklahoma’ theme.  As the last song was sung on opening night, the cast got a standing ovation, and the loudest claps were for Ollie Berry, and Ultan Keena, and Hilary Orpen, probably because of their song and dance routines.  The humour in the show went down well with the audience, as much as the music and dance did.
'Oklahoma’ is running until next Saturday night, March 9 at the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone. Tickets for Oklahoma! are on sale now from the Dean Crowe Theatre on 090 6492129 and www.deancrowetheatre.com
Tickets will also be available from Golden Island Shopping Centre.  Ticket prices are as follows: Wednesday, March 6 - Saturday, March 9: Adults €19; Child €12; Conc. €12