Oklahoma! Is Daring, Different, and Discombobulating

The Oklahoma! tour cast stars (from left) Mitch Tebo as Andrew Carnes, Ugo Chukwu as Cord Elam,
Christopher Bannow as Jud Fry, Sasha Hutchings as Laurey Williams, Benj Mirman as Ali Hakim,
Sis as Ado Annie Carnes, Sean Grandillo as Curly McLain, and Barbara Walsh as Aunt Eller
(photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (1943) has long been one of those "Broadway standards" that gets performed with impressive frequency, despite its age. As such, most modern viewers are more than familiar with the story of two men, "heroic" Curly (Hunter Hoffman -- subbing for Sean Grandillo -- at Tuesday's opening-night performance of Oklahoma! at the Durham Performing Arts Center) and creepy Jud (Christopher Bannow), fighting for the love of one woman, Laurey (Sasha Hutchings) back in 1906. However, the latest production of the show, darkly directed by Daniel Fish and onstage now DPAC, puts a new spin on the tale and exposes some of the troubling themes and problematic undertones that were there all along.

It's clear right from the start that this is an Oklahoma! like no other. Even before the opening, the stage is mostly monotone in color, albeit for a few brightly colored garland banners strung across the top. They create a sort of festive atmosphere, which serves as a nice counterbalance to the production's dark themes and also makes viewers question what unfolds. Is this really the cheery, funny musical they've seen (or at least heard of) countless times before? The new setting, the somber delivery, and the staging say "no"; but yet, much of the story and script remains unchanged. The result is an unsettling but intriguing viewing experience, one that is particularly effective for those acquainted with the show. In their case, Fish has taken something familiar and changed it into something completely new, which is no easy feat.

Sasha Hutchings and Sean Grandillo star as Laurey Williams and Curly McLain in the national tour
of Oklahoma! now at DPAC (photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Similarly, the casting and directorial choices take the characters from stock to startling, allowing viewers to experience them differently than ever before. Ado Annie, for example, is no longer flighty, flirty, and cutesy. Instead, she's big, bold, and embracing her budding sexuality, thanks to a charming performance by Sis. Likewise, Laurey isn't a mere prize to be won. Hutchings' purposefully dry and somber delivery turns her into a brooding, complex character with self-destructive tendencies and a penchant for being drawn toward darkness.

The male characters take on new life as well. Christopher Bannow's perfectly acted Jud is still scary, but audience members actually care about why. With allusions to self-hatred, struggles with mental illness, and attractions that he's not allowed to explore, Jud becomes an interesting character, not one that viewers will root for exactly, but at least one viewers care about and can do more than hate. On the flip side, Curly is no longer just some worthy hero who gets the girl. He's problematic and somewhat mean-spirited.

The national tour of Oklahoma!, now playing DPAC, stars Hennessy Winkler and Sis as Will Parker
and Ado Annie Carnes (photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Add all of this to a never-changing set, video close-ups of the actors' faces during tense moments, lights that are either too bright or a pitch-black room, and the result is not just a whole new Oklahoma!, but a whole new theater experience in general. It feels uncomfortable. It feels confusing. It's shocking. It's scary. It's gross. It makes you think. In short, it's actual art. Daring, discombobulating, and downright trippy at times, the production thrusts viewers not just into a new state, but into a new way of thinking of this and other classic musical scripts. It's more than just a reimagining; it's a genre-questioning reinvention made for the modern age.

One thing, and only one thing, is for certain. Viewers need to leave their expectations at the door. This is an Oklahoma! that surprises, astounds, and leaves plenty of room for thought. It's important, effective, and unforgettable, the sort of show that will be go down in theater history and be talked about for years to come.

The national tour cast kicks up its heels in director Daniel Fish's rousing reinterpretation of Oklahoma!
at DPAC through Sunday, April 3rd (photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 29-April 3), presented as part of Truist Broadway at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham). TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhuR1w07cgs&t=1s. 2021-22 TRUIST BROADWAY AT DPAC SEASON: https://www.dpacnc.com/truist-broadway/season/2021-2022-truist-broadway-at-dpac. THE PRESENTER: https://www.dpacnc.com/, https://www.facebook.com/DPACNC, https://www.instagram.com/DPACNC/, https://twitter.com/DPAC, and https://www.youtube.com/user/DPACLive. THE TOUR: https://oklahomabroadway.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/oklahoma-526789, https://www.facebook.com/oklahomabway, https://www.instagram.com/oklahomabway/, https://twitter.com/oklahomabway, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFKTL2P5gIYjiECY7sNWMw. TOUR CAST: https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/oklahoma-526789#OpeningNightCast. TOUR CREATIVE TEAM: https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/oklahoma-526789. THE SHOW: https://oklahomabroadway.com/, https://rodgersandhammerstein.com/show/oklahoma/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/oklahoma-6697, http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_o/oklahoma.htm, http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical014.html, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma!. THE COMPOSER, LYRICIST, AND PLAYWRIGHT: https://rodgersandhammerstein.com/, https://rnh.com/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodgers_and_Hammerstein. TICKETS: $26.50 and up, plus taxes and fees. Call 800-982-2787 or click here to buy tickets. GROUPS (10+ tickets): 919-680-2787, Groups@DPACnc.com, and https://www.dpacnc.com/events/groups-services. DIRECTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/directions. PARKING: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/parking. DPAC COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS: https://www.dpacnc.com/events/vaccination-and-covid-19-test-requirements. INFORMATION: 919-680-2787 or CustomerService@DPACnc.com. Nancy Rich's Review.

WHAT: Triangle Review is a FREE weekly e-mail performing-arts and film newsletter, edited and published by Robert W. McDowell since April 2001.

TO SUBSCRIBE: To start your FREE subscription today, sign up in the subscription box at the beginning of this e-mail; or e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE-TR in the Subject: line. TO UNSUBSCRIBE: E-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type UNSUBSCRIBE-TR in the Subject: line.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? E-mail all questions, comments, and Letters to the Editor to RobertM748@aol.com. For Letters to the Editor, please include a daytime telephone number in your e-mail.

COPYRIGHT: Editorial content in all formats © 2022 Triangle Review and the author of each article. Reproduction in any form without authorization of Triangle Review and the respective authors is prohibited. Triangle Review maintains an archive of past issues. To request copies of past articles and/or issues, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com.