Oklahoma! Broadway Revival Recording- Page 2

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 6:20pm

I've listened to the recording and am disappointed. It sounds much smoother, much "prettier" than the raw, edgy, mostly unmiked sound I experienced in the theater. Almost airbrushed. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 8:23pm

Pose2 said: "RNJ is a star, I have loved her since American Idiot. She looks and sounds incredible in this production. People are divided on her? How strange. Perhaps they want their old Oklahoma! back."

Same, but since Passing Strange! (If you havent heard her "come down now," you should).

Wanting their Oklahoma! back (which I take to mean wanting a blond Audra McDonald) is definitely a part of it. Otherwise, I am baffled by the "division" over her performance. I can sorta understand finding her performance choices abrasive, as she was clearly directed to be cautious and reserved when not breaking into song. (as someone said above, her subtlety made the production come together, i thought it was wonderful). But her vocals, at least when I saw her, were simply beyond reproach. 

I only listened a few tracks but i had the same reaction as poisonivy: it sounds good but polished. The rawness and vulnerability are missing, or at least muted. I still do not understand how Oklahoma! plays without that gruff exterior, though. I have only seen this production so I admit fully I could be out the loop on the traditional productions, but as an Oklahoma! newbie, the lyrics and plot truly don't lend themselves to that sunny broadway-y sound. 

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:02pm

It's available on Apple Music, too. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 12:57am

poisonivy2 said: "I've listened to the recording and am disappointed. It sounds much smoother, much "prettier" than the raw, edgy, mostly unmiked sound I experienced in the theater. Almost airbrushed."

I was't totally disappointed, but yes, it sounds smoother. The band sounds so good live. I fell totally in love with the new bluegrass arrangements and they lose a bit of their edge on the recording. But I will still listen to it.

 

[BJR]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 8:42am

I agree there's something a little different about the recording. Some of the spunk and energy isn't quite there from seeing it live.

But that said, I'm thrilled to have it since walking out of St Ann's last fall and wishing I could listen to it right away.

[CopleyScott17]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 12:17pm

Was able to purchase and download this yesterday (Friday, June 28) via Google Play Music store, and I think it's fantastic.  Brought back all of the memories of seeing the show just before opening night, which -- along with Bernadette in "Hello, Dolly!" -- is one of the top theatrical experiences of my lifetime.  Needless to say, the voices are wonderful, the recording is pristine, and the musicianship is splendid.  I did miss the "angry" reprise of the title song, but that probably wouldn't translate very well to a cast recording compared to the live experience, which made for the perfect finale.  But the true revelation for me was the Dream Ballet, which was my least favorite part of the production.  The recording, on the other hand, is a true revelation.  It essentially functions as a replacement for the missing overture, and it is just stunning.  Kudos to the band, and especially Daniel Kluger's orchestration.  It's a sin he didn't win the Tony.  

[goldenboy]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 12:11am

Let me first say that although I went with trepidation being a traditionalist, I loved this production of Oklahoma.. It was clever. It was the  Anti Oklahoma. And I mean that as a complement.

As for Laurie/ Rebecca Naomi Jones. Lauri is usually a  likable ingenue --so when Rebeca played her as snarky,  snarly, kinda mannish using one guy against another and not so nice it was hard to see why men were fighting over her.   I did as a traditionalist think what have they done to  Laurie?  I knew why they fought over Shirley Jones but not so much Rebecca Naomi Jones.

I think it's the most jolting of the character changes in this production. Her Laurie is snarky, bitchy and a tad mannish.

Rebecca was apparently directed that way. Her angry rendition of Oklahoma is is ... well angry. So getting used to this new Laurie is a bit of an adjustment. I had a similar problem with Aunt Eller who is normally comic relief but not in this production.

The new Curly; the new Will Parker, the Jud Fry,  the new Ali Hakim's were much easier to adjust to and made much more sense.

I think that Laurie being played so differently, really makes people divided on the character/actor performance. It's hard to separate between actor and character. And this divides people. It definitely divided me.  I thought, why is Laurie so bitchy??

[Pose2]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 1:10am

Wow, what terrible things to say about her.  And no, unless you are very stupid, people don't confuse an actor with their character or find that challenging, in any way.   

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 1:18am

I kind of felt the same way about Laurie but just kind of ignored it, I guess. As directed, she played the part well. 

 

As for the recording. I listened first at home through speakers. I then listened to it yesterday with headphones/earbuds on. Vocally everyone is wonderful but I kept thinking I would love an instrumental version of these new arrangements. I found myself ignoring the vocals and concentrating on the instrumentals. The band is excellent. And I LOVE bluegrass music.

[bear88]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 2:30am

poisonivy2 said: "I've listened to the recording and am disappointed. It sounds much smoother, much "prettier" than the raw, edgy, mostly unmiked sound I experienced in the theater. Almost airbrushed."

I'm not sure that could have been avoided unless they were going to do a live recording, which might not have worked. Same with the Oklahoma! version that ends the musical. 

It doesn't pack the jolt of the live performance, but most everyone sounds fine - and the band is still terrific. And I agree with CopleyScott17 that I reminded me of the things I liked about the Dream Ballet. It was fun to listen to while I worked yesterday. As with cast recordings I hear after seeing a show I liked, it reminded me of the things I liked about it. And if I have to picture the green light and Daunno and Jones' chemistry during the sultry conclusion of Surrey With the Fringe on Top in my mind, that's OK. 

 

[binau]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 4:01am

Why does Curly like her? Because she is hot and men are pigs that only care about one thing. She is not Fosca!

[Pose2]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 4:19am

Her Laurie is strong, serious and frustrated.  She’s silently infuriated by the very notion of a binary choice: One man or another, one future or another. What about all the other futures? What about all the places beyond Aunt Eller’s house, places she hasn’t seen?  Clearly, you are man asking multiple times what could possibly be wrong with this woman.  Using the words bitchy, snarky and mannish not once, but twice.  Gross. Clearly, you miss the old, tired version.

"People Will Say We're In Love"

Updated On: 7/1/19 at 04:19 AM

[bear88]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 4:59am

One of the brilliant things about this revival is what it doesn't change. Laurie says and does all the same things for almost the entire show. She's sarcastic even as played by Shirley Jones in the movie, mocking Curley and expressing resentment at his presumptuousness. Laurie is clearly frustrated by her limited horizons and expresses that. It's right there in the book. Is "Many a New Day" the song of a happy, lovestruck ingenue? Why is she so tormented by what, in the traditional version and the revival, seems like an obvious choice? It's because the fact that the must make that choice - apparently the only choice she's allowed, and even that's basically been decided for her - when she longs for something more. Choosing Jud to take her to the box social seems like a small act of rebellion.

And yet, moreso in the revival than in any other version I've seen, the draw of Curley is made obvious. Laurey is attracted to him, can't quite help herself. There's actual chemistry between them. The lighting change at the end of "Surrey With the Fringe on Top" only heightens the effect. Too many musicals involving romance and young people fail at portraying the combination of youthful fear and desire. The Oklahoma! revival fixes that. Rebecca Naomi Jones is sexy just standing there looking irritated. The reprise of "People Will Say We're in Love" is less celebratory and more an acceptance by Laurie that they really can't resist each other. 

I didn't think everything about the revival worked, and my wife and I debated Jones' portrayal after we saw the show. (I liked it more than she did, although she did love her "Many a New Day" performance and her interaction with Jud near the ending.)

This has veered off from a discussion of the cast recording, but the strengths of Jones' performance, along with Damon Daunno, are certainly highlighted in it.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 8:17am

goldenboy said: "Lauri is usually a likable ingenue --so when Rebeca played her as snarky, snarly, kinda mannishusing one guy against another and not so nice it was hard to see why men were fighting over her. I did as a traditionalist think what have they done to Laurie? I knew why they fought over Shirley Jones but not so much Rebecca Naomi Jones.

I think it's the most jolting of the character changes in this production. Her Laurie is snarky, bitchy and a tad mannish.

Rebecca was apparently directed that way. Her angry rendition of Oklahoma is is ... well angry. So getting used to this new Laurie is a bit of an adjustment. I had a similar problem with Aunt Eller who is normally comic relief but not in this production.

I think that Laurie being played so differently, really makes people divided on the character/actor performance. It's hard to separate between actor and character. And this divides people. It definitely divided me. I thought, why is Laurie so bitchy??"

Uhm. This description makes me all the more into what Jones and Fish did. They didn't WANT Laurie to be just another sweet ingenue. They wanted her to be snarky and hesitant and teasing to Curly- otherwise the conflict is....what? Two dudes both like this object? Again, I really do not understand how a traditional version of Oklahoma! works: a mean hunk tortures a creepy weirdo while at the same time a beautiful girl cant choose between these two horrible options, and then she marries one gleefully after he kills the other. If Laurie isn't repulsed/frustrated/confused by her circumstances, the whole updated version falls apart. (Similar sentiment to the way they turned Jud into a three dimensional character).

As for why two men would fight over this Laurie, this doesn't seem hard to understand. RNJ is a full stop knockout, and sounds sexy as hell too. The WHOLE POINT (i thought) of this production was to up the raw sexual attraction that goes unmentioned/unacknowledged in the original. And describing her as "mannish" makes me think you compleeeetely missed that angle.Laurie is bitchy because she's toying with two men and confused/disappointed/attracted by both. 

[Pose2]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 1:37pm

Clearly, a lot of people are missing the old fashioned, lily white production.  Laurie needs to be a sweet, cheery thing with no emotional depth!

This Oklahoma! f*cks.  Anyone who doesn't get that reference doesn't understand this particular production.  

[Hot Pants]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 7:24pm

This Oklahoma! f*cks. Anyone who doesn't get that reference doesn't understand this particular production."

I highly doubt getting a Silicon Valley reference is what constitutes who understands this production of Oklahoma

[Pose2]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 8:18pm

Do you think they are honestly referencing Jared from Silicon Valley? Nope. It means it's dark, sexy, dangerous, tense, and highly erotic.  

[CopleyScott17]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 9:15pm

I agree 100% with Sally Durant Plummer and Ravenclaw. Talking about the actress's physical appearance in a thread about the *recording* is pretty much the definition of off-topic.

Updated On: 7/1/19 at 09:15 PM

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 10:26pm

On the subject of the actual recording... I haven't seen this production, but this recording is glorious. Although I have seen the film many times, Oklahoma! has always been my least favorite of R&H's main shows. I never understood it's appeal when compared to the glorious Carousel, South Pacific, or The King and I. This recording might be the most incredible thing I have ever heard - to me, it is revelatory.

In the revival department, I really am a stickler for maintaining the entire score - be it Overture, Entr'acte, ect.  And I am always upset when there is a re-orchestration of a show that was already orchestrated to perfection. But this recording has made me look at the show in a whole new way. "Many a New Day" and "People Will Say We're In Love" are my favorites. Though the score will never be my favorite, I might now have a recording I will listen to regularly. Is this production still planning to close in September?

[Pose2]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 10:31pm

They extended through January 2020. 

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 10:32pm

Sally Durant Plummer said: "On the subject of the actual recording... I haven't seen this production, but this recording is glorious. Although I have seen the film many times, Oklahoma! has always been my least favorite of R&H's main shows. I never understood it's appeal when compared to the glorious Carousel, South Pacific, or The King and I. This recording might be the most incredible thing I have ever heard - to me, it is revelatory.

In the revival department, I really am a stickler for maintaining the entire score - be it Overture, Entr'acte, ect. And I am always upset when there is a re-orchestration of a show that was already orchestrated to perfection. But this recording has made me look at the show in a whole new way. "Many a New Day" and "People Will Say We're In Love" are my favorites. Though the score will never be my favorite, I might now have a recording I will listen to regularly. Is this production still planning to close in September?"

It extended and is now closing in January 2020 :) 
And yes, I love the new album too! One of my favorites this season. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 10:32pm

I believe it extended through the end of the year. 

Many a New Day (and the closing number) sound SO.MUCH.BETTER live, i dont even know how to convey it to you. So definitely try and see it!

But yes, this is a show whose music i never ever got into, and this recording simply redefines it without changing it. Its truly friggin remarkable.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 10:35pm

Might have to plan a fall trip to see this and The Inheritance...

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 10:42pm

This might be interesting to some of you...

I was really against seeing this just because it was such a radical reinvention of a show and everythign I heard seemed like the antithesis of the author's intentions. I also had zero extra money this past year graduating college, so the only show this season I was able to see was Hillary and Clinton, which was a birthday present.

During all this talk about the radical production of Oklahoma!, I was directing my senior thesis - Top Girls in the fall, and in the spring, a gigantic re-interpretation of A Streecar Named Desire. My production of Streetcar featured a male-identifying actor as Blanche and projections of Lana Del Rey playing throughout the scene breaks and intermission. It was the very definition of a concept production. And while I was hoping that people would come to my show with open eyes, I had already written off this production. Just goes to show, every single person has baggage that they bring with them to the theatre, and even on this board we judge things without actually seeing them. Now I want to see this show just to see the world Fish created...

[green waver]

Posted: 7/1/19 at 11:42pm

     Lets not forget that R&H personally approved the casting of Joan Roberts and Shirley Jones. It's certainly going too far to insist that their appearance, acting, and sopranoey singing are an anachronism, and this Laurie is now the only valid interpretation.