Manly “cain't say no” to Oklahoma!

Manly Musical Society will stage the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma! from May 18.

Oklahoma! is one of the first of what were called the American ‘book musicals’ where the music, lyrics and dance were genuinely integrated into, and added to the telling or a real, dramatic story. The show includes such classics as ‘Oh What a Beautiful Morning’, ‘Surrey with a Fringe on Top’, and the cheeky ‘I’m Jest a Girl who Cain’t Say No’. 

The 1943 Broadway hit, later immortalised by the 1955 movie starring Gordon McRae and Gloria Graheme, later rocketed back into the consciousness of theatre-goers when Hugh Jackman took the West End by storm with his portrayal of Curly in 1998.

How does a small musical society on Sydney’s Northern Beaches plan to take this well-loved and well-worn piece and breathe new life into it? Director Dave Izzard of Bizzie Productions and leading man Chris Lewis told Stage Whispers about their plans for the show.

Stage Whispers: How do you meet the challenge of a classic love story?

Dave Izzard: There is a classic formula at play, however what is really interesting about all of the love stories within Oklahoma! is that the show starts in the middle of the relationship. There is no scene where the star-struck lovers first see each other and fall hopelessly and madly in love at first sight. This actually makes the story more realistic. There is a history to these relationships which as a director I need to glean from the inferences in the dialogue as opposed to slapping the audience in the face with a corny “you had me at hello” type romance.

SW: How does this production of Oklahoma! offer audiences something different from other productions?

DI: I believe when it comes to community theatre the strength of any production lies in the ability and potential within your cast. In this production there will be no flashy sets or painted backdrops. My cast are the story and as such my hope is that the audience will not be able to take their eyes off them. I think there is a tendency by most to rely on Oklahoma as a glossy story book piece with pretty music, bright colours and a formulaic storyline. I have attempted to explore the depth of the characters and the amazing acting talent of my cast. 

SW: So what was your vision for the show?

DI: My vision is based around the play that the musical was based on – Green Grow the Lilacs, a play written by Lynn Riggs in the 1930’s. The play’s dialogue is very gritty and provides an extra level of depth when determining the characters in Oklahoma! Particularly Judd, who is in reality a quite unbalanced individual with a darkness that you only get a glimpse of in the dialogue within the musical itself. Don’t get me wrong though, we are not taking a “try hard” approach to being deep, audiences can still expect to have a rollicking good time- we have not missed an opportunity to draw the comedy out of the script. Of course whilst I strive to be original it is difficult not to give a few nods to Hugh Jackman, particularly when you have such a pretty and masculine Curly.

Chris Lewis, who plays Curly, studied opera at the WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and graduated with his Bachelor of Music at the end of 2008. He joined the West Australian Opera Company during his second year of study in 2007 in the chorus, and he then made his professional debut as Handsome in Puccini’s Girl of the Golden West in 2009. He has moved to Sydney to join the Opera Australia chorus.

SW: How did you come to be cast in Manly’s production of Oklahoma!?

Chris Lewis: I moved to Sydney late last year to continue pursuing my opera career but have always loved musicals - there’s a few roles I’ve always wanted to sing and Curly was one of them so when this popped up I jumped at the chance. Community theatre is a great way to make friends and keep myself busy.

SW: What's been the greatest challenge in portraying Curly?

CL: Without a doubt finding the depth, so he’s not just a two dimensional joker. He has some really powerful scenes with Judd and there some temptation to overplay it a little. The challenge for me has been coming from working in opera the last couple of years this is the largest amount of dialogue I’ve worked with in a while, so it takes a lot of work for me to find the nuance and not ‘opera project’ the hell out of it the whole time.

SW: Who inspires you in your portrayal of Curly?

CL: Nobody really, I prefer to go to the script and the score for my information on the character. I think there’s a danger when we start trying to base a portrayal on somebody else’s work. It takes all the fun and challenge away! Funnily enough I was just thinking in the last 5 years I have only played one character that doesn’t carry a gun on stage, maybe I look like the kind of guy that needs to be carrying a weapon.

SW: So what can audiences expect from Manly Musical Society’s production of Oklahoma?

CL: A bright, energetic and insightful retelling of a much-loved classic.

Manly Musical Society’s production of Oklahoma plays from May 18 – 26, 2012, at the Star of The Sea theatre in Collingwood St Manly.

www.manlymusicalsociety.com

More Reading

Community Theatre Seasons 2012 - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/community-theatre-seasons-2012

More Community Theatre - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre