THERE were reasons why Limerick Musical Society chose Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’ for its 2013 production at the concert hall. Opening on Thursday April 18 next, the cast of 50 and crew of a dozen, plus ‘front of house’ volunteers of another dozen give you an idea of the scale of involvement and effort but the vehicle has to be right too.
“We had covered a lot of modern musical such as ‘The Hot Mikado’, ‘Cocacobana’ and last year’s ‘Big’, for example and wanted to revert to an old-fashioned, traditional musical. ‘Oklahoma!’ appeals to young and old, it really captures the imagination and has something for everyone in the family,” explains PRO Gerry Ryan. “This is not just for kids”.
He outlines a story of courtship set down in the corn-clad plains of America’s mid west, the frisson between Laurey (Orla Walsh) and cowhand Curley (Michael O’Dwyer) interrupted by an older man’s fury, Jud Fry, played by Martin McNelis.
McNelis is a familiar name locally and nationally in musical theatre, having been nominated for AIMS several times. He has been acting for 25 years and notched up even more productions – beyond counting now. He too echoes the feeling that this show has depth as well as musicality, giving it traction for ‘grown ups’.
“I’ve played Jud before and like my favourite part, Sweeny Todd – a deep, dark character, Jud is a flawed man. He lusts after the farm owner Laurey although Curley is her logical choice, and he has a dark, sleazy, creepy thing for her. Musicals are quite frothy, this one has an undercurrent”.
‘Oklahoma!’ is one of the all time great musical plays of the twentieth century, we are told. The original show was a smash hit and for 15 years it held the record as the longest running musical on Broadway.
If your interest is whetted, book a seat now as busloads pull up to view Limerick Musical Society’s ambitious fare for the national AIMS awards. Nigel Dugdale, Kim Burke, Laura Henebry, Dermot Winston and Jamie Sheehan join the cast: www.uch.ie, April 18-20 .
via Dark undertones to Oklahoma cheer | Limerick Post Newswrite.
