Oh, what a beautiful "Oklahoma!" in Glendale

--- Theatre review

Rodgers & Hammerstein´s classic romantic musical about hope and promise in a "brand new state," bursts onto the Glendale Centre Theatre stage with a light-hearted exuberance and energy that will cheer even the gloomiest of spirits.

At the first sweeping notes of the overture, the audience seems to come alive, and when Curly begins his laid-back, "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," many sing along with him.

Dark-haired and handsome Robert Standley plays Curly, the good-natured cowboy who comes riding through cornfields "as high as an elephant´s eye" to court the coy Miss Laurie (golden voiced Heather Lundstedt, from ´Phantom" and "Scarlet Pimpernel´). She and Aunt Eller (Ann Rittenhouse) run a large farm, their only help a sullen hired hand.

Jud Fry is played by August Stoten, who can look vile and creepy in some scenes and wretched and pitiful in others. In the nightmare segment of "Out of my Dreams" his (well-choreographed) rough handling of Laurie brings gasps from the audience. And yet, they sympathize with his agonized longing for a "girl of his own."

Jealous tension arises between these two polar opposites, and Laurie foolishly provokes the cowboy by agreeing to go to the box social with the farmhand. "Poor Jud is Dead," a duet sung by the two men in Jud´s smokehouse quarters is both amusing and poignant.

Later, their rivalry (mirrored by the competition between the "Farmers and the Cowmen") escalates to an explosive climax, requiring the intervention of the Territory Marshall (Richard Leppig) and "judge" (Kyle Kelley).

Meanwhile another triangle blossoms between the fickle Ado Annie (Ann Myers), the lovable, and not very bright Will Parker (Jason Keef) and the slick Persian traveling salesman Ali Hakim, played to perfection by Danny Michaels.

Ado Annie´s hilarious "I Cain´t Say No" explains her dilemma, but Will makes her promise to give him "All or Nothing." Meanwhile Hakim is trapped by yet another father with a shotgun.

High praise goes to choreographer Orlando Alexander for his variety of animated and stylized musical numbers and realistic fight scenes. Praise too, to the talented company of dancers and actors who perform them.

Martin Lang´s direction is often innovative, but the subtle changes he made to the old standby musical did nothing but improve the audience´s enjoyment.

With so many serious, moralistic, and political plays abounding these days (and they all have their place), it´s wonderful to see an old fashioned, happily-ever-after, feel-good theatrical production that has memorable songs you can hum or sing on your way home. GCT has provided this for Glendale and nearby audiences.

Performances run Thursday-Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 pm through July 11. Tickets range from $23.00-$26.00. Call (818) 244-8481 for reservations, or visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com