Some thoughts on Papermill's Oklahoma

-I've never before seen a production of Oklahoma that was so lifeless.

-Brynn O'Malley and Adam Monley are good actors, but couldn't they have found good actors with really excellent voices? I know they had Matt Bogart lined up, and he'd have been great, but this was all they could muster up to replace him with?

-Someone needs to tell Megan Sikora that her part is supposed to be funny.

-Brian Sears (Will), Andrew Varela (Jud), and Jonathan Brody (Ali Hakim) are the highlights of this production, particularly Sears.

-Why is Louisa Flanigham playing Aunt Eller like she has down syndrome?

-How come the drawing on the Playbill looks like nothing like the two actors playing the leads?

-The choreography was dull and would have been much more exciting if Patti Columbo had not dropped out (anyone know the story behind that one??).

-I've seen high schools come up with a better transition from Laurey to Dream Laurey than this production did.

-A good chunk of act 1 dragged tonight, which only happens in poor productions of this show.

-There were a lot of kids and families in the audience tonight, which I suspect is because the only way to get tickets to High School Musical is by buying a subscription. The run of that show is otherwise sold out.

Updated On: 10/5/08 at 12:16 AM

Laurey slowly moved stage right as Dream Laurey entered from stage left, mimicking her movements.

Yes, actually. He's credited with the original set and costume design. Michael Allen is credited with the "set coordination and additional design."

Ugh, the sets were the only thing I didn't like about the recent revival. Why would anyone "borrow" them?

You have the option of using the DeMille choreography or not. R&H has a guide book, and, I believe, an instructional video.

I saw a recent comminity theatre version that totally ripped off Stroman's staging - badly.

I can't stand productions that use a different Curly and Laurie for the dream ballet. I saw Stroman's first so I guess it ruined me for other interpretations. I haven't seen the DeMille choreography, but I can't imagine it being so difficult that they can't find two triple threats. Especially these days. Has that always been the excuse?

I can't stand productions that use a different Curly and Laurie for the dream ballet.

I laugh when I think about that, because Brynn had to do her own dream ballet when she played Laurie in high school.

I've yet to see an enjoyable production of OKLAHOMA!. The last revival didn't do it for me; I don't have patience for the movie...

I wish it were still that way
Then, I wouldn't even have to worry about making MT my career.

Re: Patti Columbo
She came down with neumonia a week before the show went into rehearsals, and recommended this choreographer (name escapes me). This comes from the artistic director af Papermill at a talkback.

I personally thought that Megan Sikora was the highlight of the show.