Oklahoma! - Young Vic / Wyndham’s

Yesterday was the final performances from Arthur Darvill and Rebekah Hinds. I couldn't make the evening performance, but I did rush for the matinee, ending up on the end of the fourth row, which is about as good a place as you could possibly sit. The rows curve, so you're close to the stage, but you're also on the first raised row, so can see above the band. Plus, you're safe from getting soaked with water, or having actors brushing your hair.

The downside, as often happens, is the other people. How audience members can eat snacks during the blackout scenes or just not keep still in their chairs, is beyond me. The bar staff were also doing their best to talk louder than the actors at various points.

Everyone was on fine form yesterday and having a lot of fun. There were lines I've never heard before! I can't see how anyone can follow Arthur. He is just so perfectly suited for Curly in this production. Nevertheless I shall look forward to seeing Sam Palladio in the coming weeks.

Aaaaah can't wait to see Sam's Curly!!!

Going to this next week. Anyone know where the cast board is and if the Grand circle can see it at some point.

When you walk in it's straight in front of you above the desk. I think everyone can see it in the lobby no matter where they are sitting so should be fine if I recall correctly. 

I quite enjoyed it but I hated the blackouts and I can't fully understand what the shoes falling during the ballet was all about. I've now seen a version of all five of the main R and H which I'm glad to have done. Paige Peddie as Ado Annie and Lizzie Wofford as Gertie Cummings the the stars of the show but the cast are all good. No Sally Ann Tripplet today so Shani Cantor was on and quite good despite coming across as no older than Curly and Laurey. Also no Phillip Olagoke so Helen K Wint did a gender swapped Cord Elam which I didn't realise until the final scene. (I did see the cast board as I went in and noticed two changes but didn't grasp a gender switch was happening. It was a planned cover as in the programme.)

Couldn’t bear any of it. Paired down/ immersive = producer heaven/cheap. Where are the sumptuous orchestrations, the dream ballet….I could go on and on. If this is the way revivals of these glorious shows are heading, count me out. 3 words KINGS NEW CLOTHES!

The lighting is so bright because you're meant to feel like you're equal with the cast in a community/civic hall - hence the ceremonial guns on the wall (though not so ceremonial perhaps, and very likely to be pulled down and usable).  When I saw this at the Young Vic what didn't work for me is the reason for us all being in that hall together wasn't clear.  Blink and you'll miss it (as it's only mentioned in the final title song I think) but Oklahoma is about to be given the status of being a State: "we'll soon be living in a brand new state / aint that great".  I think the way that we see the community negotiating how to dispense justice over Curly killing Jud is a sign of self-governance and things to come. But, in the writing, the debate after Curly kills Jud is incredibly swift.

As the audience enter I could have done with some public notices, or leaflets handed out, as if we were all being told of Oklahoma's imminent new status, that we'll all be lawmakers soon, and it's our chance to shape what living in our new state will be like.  If this reimagining of the show is a prosecution of what it means to put the law in the people's hands (and they vested interests and biases they bring) then it would be good to know that at the start, not in the final scene and song.

A post above mentioned 'falling shoes' during the ballet - which brought back an only slightly guilty memory that I'd blanked:

I didn't see the shoes at the Young Vic, as I didn't see much of the ballet at all.  It's the only time in the theatre I've closed my eyes due to acute cringing embarrassment until it's over.  Overall I enjoyed the show, but not that - and the long blackout was pointless and (at the Young Vic) dangerous as the woman next to me in the very narrow balcony freaked out thinking something had gone wrong and we were trapped.

Interpretive daaaaance. My bête noire.🤢

That's typically added so the bar can make some more money!

Although overall, the Young Vic staging was better, because the audience were more a part of the story (which seems to be a big part of the theme, that the actors are reflecting and are a part of us), but the ballet sequence was leagues better in the proscenium West End, in my opinion, because it came across as a LOT more confrontational, with the dancer facing off aggressively against an oppositional audience. She could have been one of the Sex Pistols, she was so antisocial, and that clued us in as to just how hopeless Anoushka Lucas's Laurey was feeling.

I saw the matinee on Saturday. It's been a long time coming as we were booked for June last year at the Old Vic and the show was cancelled shortly before.

I'm not particularly into the classic musicials but was excited to see this given the reviews I'd read and as I've never seen it before, though I didn't know too much about it but knew the famous songs.

I'm on the fence about it. I did think the cast were all wonderful, particularly Patrick Vaill (Jud) and Sally Ann Triplett (Aunt Eller). It was Paige Peddie as Ado Annie though who stole the show for me. I think the show is worth seeing for the cast alone. I also appreciated the band and liked the bluegrass twang.

I'm afraid however in parts I was a little bored. I thought the first half in particular was quite static with everything based around the table, although testament to how good the cast are as so much was conveyed in their faces even when sat down.

I wonder if, for me, I found the story a little dated and didn't connect with it too much. I wasn't into the blackouts, despite having read why they were used.

As I left the theatre I would have given it 3 stars but having now thought about it and also read the programme and online about what the intentions were and into the story I think it is a 4 star show, I wish I'd read about the production before going in.

There were sadly quite a few empty seats in the stalls and circle which surprised me with it closing next week. We sat in a box for the first time which meant some parts were missed but did feel particularly close to the stage so felt quite intimate. Shout out to the lovely ushers in the circle.