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Post by capybara on Mar 26, 2023 1:09:16 GMT
This show didn’t really connect with me when I saw it on Wednesday afternoon.
The individual performances were great, especially Georgina Onuorah. There were flashes of comedy that landed well but I found it to be quite inward-looking in its style.
I have never seen a previous production of Oklahoma, nor have I seen the film, so I’m not drawing any unfavourable comparisons.
It just seemed the extremities of light and dark (quite literally, in this case) contrasted a little too much to ever feel genuinely at ease with this show.
That being said, I was sat in stalls AA (rush ticket) on the left hand side, avoiding getting wet and being one seat out from being serenaded during I Can’t Say No! Being that close was special and added to my overall enjoyment.
Three stars for me. Glad I went to see it and worth the cost of a rush ticket but doubt I’d go again.
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Post by edi on Apr 1, 2023 6:45:27 GMT
I didn't get on with it yesterday I am afraid even though I sat in excellent front stalls seats - saw all audience interaction play out just in front of me.
There were bits i really enjoyed like Patrick Vaill's Judy, the humour for example.
But it felt disjointed. Didn't like how the music was directed (singing bad on purpose) and for some reason wasn't interested in the two main characters- I didn't see chemistry between Curly and Laurey. In fact Judd came across with more depth and sex appeal
I was bored by the ballet and could hardly make out the meaning of it. And disliked the blackouts - just couldn't concentrate on what was happening on stage during those
I also disliked the oversexual tone, even though it provided some of the best humour.
Glad I went, I really wanted to see it but wouldn't recommend to a friend or elderly relatives
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Post by partytentdown on Apr 3, 2023 14:17:26 GMT
Does anyone know of any offers for this? Are rush tickets fairly easy to get?
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 3, 2023 14:32:41 GMT
I picked up a rush ticket at 5pm on Wednesday last week
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Post by alece10 on Apr 3, 2023 15:20:42 GMT
I think the Oliviers performance proved what I already thought I knew that this would not be my kind of show. I know a lot of people love this new version but I'm a bit old school with R&H musicals.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 3, 2023 15:21:14 GMT
I wonder if this might tour after the Olivier successes? It would cost nowt, few sheets of plywood, a few guns, get it on’t road!
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 4, 2023 18:04:28 GMT
Does anyone know of any offers for this? Are rush tickets fairly easy to get? 'Show of the Week' on TKTS. Upto 48% off. |
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Post by greeny11 on Apr 5, 2023 17:18:44 GMT
Saw this at the matinee today. My only experience of this previously was the RAH version with Scarlett Strallen and Robbie Fairchild, and this was very, very different. I thought Arthur Darvill was brilliant in the lead role, and Georgina Onuorah was excellent as Ado Annie. I was centre second row, so got an excellent view of her flirting with the man in the front row, and likewise when various male characters flirted with the female sat right in front of me. It did mean I was right in the splash zone! We had Finlay Paul as Jud (first performance), and considering my only previous experiences of Finlay were as Sam and Cooper in Comedy About A Bank Robbery (both fairly sweet, comedic characters), I was blown away by his Jud, scary yet vulnerable, and an incredibly powerful voice.
I did think there were a few weird choices, the most glaring being the Dream Ballet, which I didn't see what they were trying to do with it at all. But overall, I enjoyed it.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 5, 2023 17:54:10 GMT
Is it a condition of the custodians of the R&H properties that the ballet has to be performed? I didn’t mind it at Carousel at the OAT but many didn’t like it.
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Post by showtoones on Apr 5, 2023 18:07:45 GMT
This show is just basic....Trying to say a lot, but in turn, saying nothing. I saw it in New York but not in London so not sure if anything has changed. I find it incredibly pretentious. Speaking in the dark, showing a face up close on the vide screen. Having Judd in a hoodie...it just never worked for me at all.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 6, 2023 2:52:56 GMT
howlround.com/surviving-states-audience-rejection-road-oklahomaThe guy who played Jud Fry in the American tour wrote an interesting article about how the show was almost universally rejected outside New York. "You know how some movies bomb with critics but still make millions at the box office? We were the inverse of that"
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Post by bram on Apr 13, 2023 13:34:32 GMT
Some very odd directorial decisions. Good cast. But never really involved me.
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Post by ladidah on Apr 13, 2023 13:38:55 GMT
I think the Oliviers performance proved what I already thought I knew that this would not be my kind of show. I know a lot of people love this new version but I'm a bit old school with R&H musicals. Yes, same for me. I just kept wanting them to sing it 'properly'  |
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Post by apubleed on Apr 14, 2023 12:35:22 GMT
Question - does Arthur do all 8 performance per week and if not is there a fixed schedule  ? |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Apr 14, 2023 12:44:38 GMT
does Arthur do all 8 performance per week and if not is there a fixed schedule yeah he does - I believe he said in an instagram story that he wasn't planning on taking any holidays either so he should be on every performance unless ill |
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Post by craig on Apr 18, 2023 10:12:26 GMT
Picked up a Rush ticket for this tonight. I've been very interested in it ever since New York but never got round to it there or at the Young Vic. I thought the Oliviers performance was a bit of a racket tbh, but keen to see this to make up my own mind. I'm not particularly familiar with the classic show anyway.
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Post by apubleed on Apr 18, 2023 12:57:26 GMT
Craig I’d suggest you listen to Hugh Jackman’s ‘oh what a beautiful morning’ and maybe people will say we’re in love etc before just to understand how radically different the look/feel/sound of this production is. There are some clips on YouTube, just a couple minutes is needed.
I’m also going tonight! I saw it on Broadway and LOVED it. Can’t wait to see how it translates without the original revival cast and on a traditional stage.
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Post by apubleed on Apr 19, 2023 6:50:29 GMT
LOVED the show last night. I would say it has transferred from Broadway very well. I am still shocked at how much depth they milked from the text and this production of Oklahoma is genuinely creepy and scary. One slightly disappointing thing I must admit is I think the lead male role is being played slightly differently here than the original in NYC - in NYC he was genuinely charming, attractive and flirtatious - he’d use this to manipulate those around him and while there was always a slight subtext of something isn’t right, it took time for it to unravel. Additionally, the leads in NYC were oozing of sexual chemistry. Here, Arthur’s character feels darker and something feels off from the start - it feels like he starts and ends the show as a predator/criminal and there was almost no chemistry between the leads (understudy Laurey on). The effect is that a bit of the joy from the production is gone, leaving mostly relentless discomfort and darkness. In NYC, we had both.
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Post by craig on Apr 19, 2023 8:45:09 GMT
I was very pleasantly surprised by this last night, after not particularly enjoying the Oliviers performance.
Knowing some of the songs, but not the overall plot, the tone was set early on that things were heading for disaster. Even so, I found the last scene truly shocking and violent. I thought some of the theatrical devices used to create atmosphere were very effective such as the use of cameras for closeups, the total darkness and the green and red lighting.
I also enjoyed the physicality of it all too. Ado Annie's overt physical sexuality matched the lyrics and her overall story arc, whilst the relationship between Curly and Jud felt genuinely dangerous (and also a little bit homoerotic in places!?) I would agree that Curly and Laurey needed a bit more chemistry.
I thought Liza Sadovy's Aunt Eller was excellent - the layers! She was so controlling and domineering underneath the maternal exterior. Fabulous performance.
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Post by cartoonman on Apr 19, 2023 18:53:44 GMT
Just back from Oklahoma! a good show but it does look a cheap production compared to Trevor Nunn's NT show. The programme says it started off as a college production and it still looks a bit like one. If you are a R & H fan the Royal Academy of Music are performing Carousel in July £20!
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Post by Mark on Apr 19, 2023 22:46:25 GMT
Went again today having seen it on Broadway and twice at the Young Vic. Pleased to say it was as good as ever and great to be so close to the action.
Rebekah Hinds on as Ado - she was brilliant, as was Brianna Ogunbawo as Laurie.
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 25, 2023 21:50:17 GMT
Really not sure what I watched tonight - what a bizarre show/piece!
(I went into it completely cold)
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 25, 2023 22:06:13 GMT
Saw a preview of this on Saturday night and I'm really torn on my thoughts about it. Context - never seen Oklahoma!, didn't know the score other than a few songs, didn't know anything about the story. My experience on Saturday night left me pretty cold, for a number of reasons. 1. The lighting. The lighting is pretty much either FULLY bright in the whole auditorium, or near total darkness. Seeing the rest of the audience is distracting. 2. The story is paper thin, yet I didn't really know what was going on a lot of the time. I didn't understand why Fry was such an undesirable, or why the ending happened as it did. 3. The seating - I had a supposedly prime stalls seat (booked before seating plan was available!) and I was at the very end of Row C on one of the sides, on the corner near the entrance. Most of my view was of the band as much of the action happened at the other end of the room. What I enjoyed: - - The music, and more so after listening to the Broadway recording since. - The peformances - the cast were all excellent, though not sure why Liza Sadovy left Cabaret for this. I think this would work best if you're familiar with Oklahoma!, as reading about the story later it all made a bit more sense. It's a 3/5 from me. Your comments completely mirror my experience of the show tonight! |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 25, 2023 22:41:49 GMT
LOVED the show last night. I would say it has transferred from Broadway very well. I am still shocked at how much depth they milked from the text and this production of Oklahoma is genuinely creepy and scary. One slightly disappointing thing I must admit is I think the lead male role is being played slightly differently here than the original in NYC - in NYC he was genuinely charming, attractive and flirtatious - he’d use this to manipulate those around him and while there was always a slight subtext of something isn’t right, it took time for it to unravel. Additionally, the leads in NYC were oozing of sexual chemistry. Here, Arthur’s character feels darker and something feels off from the start - it feels like he starts and ends the show as a predator/criminal and there was almost no chemistry between the leads (understudy Laurey on). The effect is that a bit of the joy from the production is gone, leaving mostly relentless discomfort and darkness. In NYC, we had both. Agreed. The show suffered from a stark lack of chemistry and overbearing sexualised direction of character interactions |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 27, 2023 11:28:31 GMT
Joining the company from May 15th are David King-Yombo as Mike, Paige Peddie as Ado Annie, and Sally Ann Triplett as Aunt Eller.
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