FOUR STARS

 

Cowboy Curly McLaine looks forward to the beautiful day ahead as he wanders into farm girl Laurey Williams's backyard and sings Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’. And that fresh-air number opens Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration together, Oklahoma! Further folksy classics like The Surrey with the Fringe on Top, I Cain’t Say No, and People Will Say We’re in Love follow as the Oklahoma! storyline, set in 1906 pioneer America, unfolds. This is the show chosen by Musical Youth Company of Oxford for its 25th anniversary production.

Aided by atmospheric, panoramic set design (Gordon Fowler) and skilled lighting (Costa Cambanakis), director Chilina Madon has infused the show’s rollicking good humour into her large, enthusiastic young cast. But as awkward, simmering Jud (a strong portrayal from Arran Johnson) lumbers into view, Madon also gives due weight to the storyline’s darker side. The contrasts in mood are further pointed up by Hannah Grainger Clemson’s inventive choreography. To my eyes, however, Clemson comes a bit unstuck in the dream ballet, in which Jud attacks Laurey. The movements here seem too fussy and stylised for the rural setting of the show. In contrast, the following exuberant social dance is sensationally exciting.

Throughout, company dancing and singing are pin-sharp — the accuracy and diction of the chorus singing puts many a professional group to shame. Among the solo roles, George Watkins projects Curly as a solid, thoroughly likeable guy, while Ellie Coote’s Laurey is plainly no pushover. India Shaw-Smith beautifully and humorously captures the older body language of Aunt Eller, and Charlie Watson contributes a hilarious comic turn (complete with Danny DeVito accent) as slippery peddler Ali Hakim. Becca Anthony’s charmingly naïve Ado is an excellent foil to Jake Halsey-Jones’s Will Parker. Conducted by Chris Payne, this is an anniversary production to be proud of. Until Saturday Tickets: 07827 645839