I don't know how Arena Stage's production of Oklahoma! could be much better. It is superb. Full of life, bursting with energy and joy, it is much better than the 2002 Broadway production we saw. Imaginatively staged and perfectly paced by director Molly Smith, the singing, the acting, and the dancing are all first-rate. and the cumulative effect is exhilarating. Three of the performers are pretty near perfect: Nicholas Rodriguez as Curly, June Schreiner as Ado Annie, and Cody Williams as Will Parker. Within a few bars of "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning" Mr. Rodriguez had won me over - what a voice. He can act and dance too but his voice is his ticket to musical stardom. June Schreiner, who almost unbelievably is just starting her senior year in high school, is dazzling as Ado Annie, the girl who "cain't say no." My wife and I came home and viewed many versions of this scene on YouTube, hoping to relive a bit of what we just saw, but none of the Ado Annie performances come close to what the darling Ms. Schreiner did on stage today. As for Mr. Williams, his exuberance and innocent charm adds to a spectacular dancing ability. The "Kansas City" scene is the finest in the show, mostly due to Mr. Williams. All three of these performers have what it takes to make it big, not simply big talent but charisma to burn. You can't your eyes off them. Watching them do such grand justice to one of Broadway's great musicals, I experienced that feeling one only gets at a spectacular musical performance: giddy delight.
A taste of what we saw today:
[youtube]MZlQdN84JO0[/youtube]
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