Oklahoma London Stage Version DVD, Lets Discuss!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 8:47pm

Okay now let's discuss the stage version DVD of Oklahoma!!!!!!
First of all, this is the BEST QUALITY of a stage production I have EVER seen. I have Sweeney Todd, Passion and Into the Woods. I realized that some things were done especially for this filming like that train segway to the train station, but still that adds to the whole picture!
The auction scene between Curly and Jud was so INTENSE! Great Theatre!
I LOVE this DVD and am SO HAPPY that I own it!
The principle Cast is AMAZING!
I LOVE Hugh Jackman as Curly! He really gets into it and puts alot into his performance and he has a nice voice! Perfect, Perfect, Perfect!!!!!!

Josefina Gabrielle is wonderful as Laurey and a real triple threat! Her Laurey was different in that she was kinda a Tom-boy, as evident by the overalls she had on in the opening, and the only girl to wear pants at anytime. I liked it and found it endearing! Her dancing in the dream ballet surprised me as I wasn't expecting it. I saw where she did the role on Broadway when it came over here. I think she ought to come back to broadway!.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Maureen Lipman as Aunt Eller. She totally got into character and was so real and to me a real pleasure to watch. She totally was that strong-as-an ox woman! Her voice was great for the role. She was my favorite!

I'm glad that Shuler Hensley's Tony winning performance is captured so beautifully on film. After seeing the 1955 film and how they cut out "Lonely Room", it was nice to see this part fully realized. Plus I felt he REALLY looked his part too!

Jimmy Johnston was so infectiously cute and charming as Will Parker. Nice Dancer. Loved his voice! Great "Kansas City". I even liked his character voice!

Same for Vicki Simon as Ado Annie, the best I've seen on film or heard on recordings, so it's nice to see the Part get Justice. Plus she looked beautiful!

I thought that Peter Polycarpou was great as Ali Hakim. Very Memorable and even Cute! GREAT comic timing!

The Ensemble danced AMAZING! and Sang Beautifully! It's nice to hear the harmonies in the women's chorus parts in "Many a New Day" and "Out of My Dreams" instead of them all singing the same notes. I was even throughly annoyed by the laugh of Gertie Cummings. Your supposed to be annoyed and you REALLY do get annoyed!

What do you think?

[jo]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 9:37pm

I was lucky to have seen the stage production during its run at the Lyceum in London in 1999.

Because of this production, I have learned to appreciate why OKLAHOMA! became the landmark American musical. I first saw the musical as a movie - but that was not too impressive for me. I enjoyed it but I didn't think it compared too well with CAROUSEL ( which I also first saw as a movie musical). I love watching the filmed stage production over and over ( and not just because Hugh is a great Curly ), the rather somber sets ( compared to the movie) notwithstanding.

Now, I am caught between this and CAROUSEL as to which one is my favourite Rodgers and Hammerstein musical!
Updated On: 1/30/06 at 09:37 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:13pm

Sorry to be the downer here, but I wasn't a fan of the video. Granted, I had never seen the show before (I'd somehow managed to avoid it), but I just found this production irritating. Hugh Jackman, despite being a fantastic actor, has a tinny, nasal chorus boy voice that really bothers me, and Josefina Gabrielle was completely miscast as Laurey. More importantly though I found Trevor Nunn to be making the mistake that so many "classic" play directors do--he treated it as a straight play, trying to make the characters realistic, etc. Trevor, it's a Rodgers and Hammestein show. Just take it for what it is. Realism hadn't even been INVENTED yet when they wrote it.

OK, I got that out. Thanks for reading. Shuler Hensley rocks though.

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:35pm

I thought it was OK...it REALLY bothered me how they added in the audience shots...I thought it took a lot away from it, and was completely unnecessary since it was actually filmed on a sound stage.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:37pm

Thanks :)

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 1:34am

Two words: Frekin Awesome

[Dbur]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:19am

I'd have to disagree with the majority here. Trevor Nunn completely took out the comedy from Oklahoma. Ado Annie, Will and Ali are supposed to be hillarious and I found them just to be boring and kind of distracting from the story rather than adding to it. Although it is nice to see Oklahoma in it's full version, I would have much rather seen it with the comedy put back in (it is Rodgers and Hammerstein, they did write "musical COMEDIES").

[Emilia]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 4:06am

I'm torn on this one, on one hand it made me appreciate a musical I previously didn't care for (in general I'm not a fan of R&H) but like the others above I think it seems a little 'overworked' is the best description I can come up with, maybe more that it takes itself too seriously (or more accuratly it's director did) That said Susan Stroman's coreography does wonders for it.

The performances also are great Hugh Jackman: awesome, really nice to see him back at the beginings of his career too, Josephnia Gabreille is great and of course the wonderful Maureen Lipman- great comedy, great character just wonderful to watch

And talking of miss Lipman anyone who is in London should go see her in 'Glorious' asap! it's very funny and to watch her is to watch real talent on stage

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 5:58am

I can't stand Hugh Jackman's vocal techniques. It's like a teacher scratching his nails on the blackboard as far as I'm concerned. The guy has a good set of pipes but he should learn how to use them.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 9:34am

Hugh's vocal tone is a bit "bright" (read: strident)... but this is an excellent production all around. The acting is first-rate, and very "natural."

I enjoyed everything about it, but I must admit... as entertaining as Stroman's choreography is, she can't hold a candle to the original de Mille "vision." Stro's is a pale imitation, but it's a nice attempt to try something different. She still loses the race by a mile, in the end. It's no improvement.