The other day I watched the movie version, which of course was fantastic. My father is 93, and when video tapes and VCRs came, my Dad was thrilled. We both read a book about how the play, songs, and lyrics were created. I watched the movie recently on RU-vid, and this stage version popped up 😱😱 I crossed my fingers that it would be good, and oh god was it!!! I’ve ALWAYS wondered how it would be produced for the stage. I could not wait to tell my father. I wanted to surprise him so I sent it to him by email and I said look what I found Dad. I didn’t hear from him for a few days and I wonder if he had received my email. Well, he called me and told me he watched the whole thing. he was so excited, and the two of us just talked and talked and talked about the screen version and the stage version of Oklahoma. I do not know how much longer I will have my dad, so you’ll understand when I say that I am delighted that I found this and could share this with him. Somebody in the comments couldn’t understand why there were not more views, and I agree 100%. This is a hidden gem.
Every film of R&H musicals eliminates one song. In the case of Oklahoma! it was "It's a Scandal, It's an Outrage." In The King and I it was "Western People Funny." In Carousel it was "Geraniums in the Window." I don't know what they cut from South Pacific, but they reordered the opening scenes to begin with the spirited male chorus "There is nothing Like a Dame," rather than the two children singing the little French song. ("Tell me why life is beautiful, tell me why life is gay. Is it because you love me?")
What a wonderful production! This has been one of my favorite musicals all my long life, and this is so well done it amazes me. I particularly enjoyed the dream dance sequence, but everyone in the cast did a fantastic job. Thanks to all for making this film so that I can enjoy it again and again!
This is why you don't go to community college. Go to big school with the money and resources like UNC. I can tell the girl playing Laurie has a real southern accent.
Wow! Incredible! Masterful! My Goodness… A College Production?!! What! Good enough for Broadway! Incredibly talented students..I forgot I was watching a college production it’s that good I didn’t see a misstep anywhere. Pardon me gotta go…Watch it Again. Fabulous. Fantastic.
I was in “Oklahoma!” in Grade 12 and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. This production is stellar and one thing that stands out to me now, as an adult, is how accurately the script depicts a sociopathic abuser in the form of Judd Fry. I didn’t see the full darkness of that character back then but, as Aunt Eller, I was backstage and didn’t see his darkest moments on stage.
Visually, it's very different, and fans of this version might have their opinions on the 2019 Broadway revival (I've seen the term "vandalism" used by some reviewers)... but I'm actually kind of shocked by how similar a lot of the characterizations are in this production to that one. Even Jud is portrayed with a touch of sympathy to his being considered an outsider, something the 2019 production got critical notice for. Maybe that's a sign of how decades of successive productions changed Oklahoma!'s image in pop culture. And (and you can fight me on this) evidence that the 2019 production was closer to the original text than people gave it credit for?
What an absolute delight! It took me so long to finally watch this show. This is probably silly to bring up, but now I know what song that T-Mobile commercial is ripping off, too!
The lead actress is no Shirley Jones. She has one facial expression in the whole show and no personality. Is she the Dean’s daughter? Everyone else is doing their best, but she brings it all down.
I played in several pit orchestra's after high school. Rogers and Hammerstien always had french horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, and a smattering of other instrument to make up the 28 piece pit orchestra. many people played multiple instruments as the need arrose.
Love the casting of Jud. Not a big burly intimidating man. Just an average looking joe with angelic eyes and a corrupted heart and soul. Curly looks like a douchebag which is perfect. He’s handsome but at the same time he’s got a face that you just want to punch. Especially during the smoke house scene.
People said about the 2019 revival, "Oh, it's so revolutionary to make Jud sympathetic and Curly a bit of a jerk." After watching this, I'm like... "Well, it's definitely a bit unusual after hundreds of productions... but if this is anything to go by, that may have always been the intention."
@@kilimenjiro3753 Absolutely! This show addresses bullying and mental illness. Jud is a disturbed individual and unfortunately for the time period, he is unable to seek the proper help and treatment that we have in place today. Mental health hospitals during that time were horrible and only worsened a patients well being than improved it.
This is a jaw dropping performance. The level of talent is so impressive I was stunned that they were as young as high school seniors and no member of the cast or orchestra having yet graduated for college. Seeing the play with age appropriate performers gave the characters a completely different dynamic. It is much easier to understand and believe that Judd in this case than Rod Steiger in the film version. And Curly, in this production is stellar. The female lead is nuanced in a way that’s so different that it surprised me. The entire production was 💯 towering in every way.
I love watching this Resoration production of the Broadway masterpiece, "Oklahoma!" Having access to the original orchestrations, sets, costumes, and the Agnes De Mille choreography is something I wish Broadway would do -- instead of presenting "new" interpretations by "innovative" directors etc. [Yes, I'm talkin' to you, 2019 Revival! --you junked Robert Russell Bennett's magnificent orchestrations and, for whatever reason, all the performers spoke with "hick accents" as though Fetus from "Gunsmoke" TV series was their Vocal/Dialect Coach. So irritating to hear all of this on the Broadway Revival's Cast album, that I don't think I made it past "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" (the 3rd song!) before I ejected the CD and promptly returned it to Amazon! ]
From my understanding, this is a faithful reproduction of the 1943 version. So it’s from around 2015 but the set, costumes, choreography, and arrangements are unchanged from 1943.
That was so brilliant . Curly and Will were perfectly cast. The costumes were recreated in every detail. The orchestra, the choreography, sound, camerawork and editing all terrific. Amd Laurie and her aunt were great. I just loved every second of part one and two. University of North Carolina School for the Arts congrats on a flawless production. Every aspect was top drawer. 💯
