I saw Oklahoma! on its opening night and its music is still in my head. To be sure, this is not my high school Oklahoma! of the early 60s or even the screen version from some time in that past. The actors in this production are truly an ensemble. The songs and dialogue just flow effortlessly. Even though I require the use of a hearing-enhancing device which are available at St Ann's, the visuals-the dancing, the love stories manifest in gesture and movement, the conflicts erupting in faceoffs and resolution-carry this 75 year story nicely. And though Curly and Laurie are the reputed leads in any production of this musical, in my opinion, the character of Will Parker steals the show. That this Bard Summerscape production was done in North Carolina "as humanly possible" tells you something about this show. And the hot chile and cornbread served at intermission was appreciated. I just wished I could have gotten seconds!

I wanted to LOVE this production. I was super intrigued by the notion of a “darker” Oklahoma!, but it turns out that the extra darkness - and pretty much the entire second act - just didn’t work for me. The ballet scene was weird - and not in a good way - and didn’t tie in well with then ending. The show was very well cast and Ali Stroker as Ado Annie, was (no pun intended as she uses a chair) a standout and was, alone, worth every penny of my $40 lottery seat, which put me at edge of the stage (the tables are used as oart of the set and table seaters become part of the action). I would consider going again just to see her, but would not hesitate to leave early to catch my train!

I have long felt that a darker Oklahoma! is in the text, waiting to be mined. There are dark themes of the so-called "American dream", people living on the fringe of that narrative and of course the sexual overtones that are outdated and ready for a good look under a new lens. I was excited to see someone take them on. However, this production didn't do any of that in a way that made you interested in the story, the characters or the production. There were a few outstanding performances, and the pared down musical profile was great, but the modern dance interlude (despite a terrific dancer) felt pasted in for "art points" and the entire production was jarring without being thought-provoking. Big bummer.