by Tony Annicone
Little Rhody Entertainment Writer
The Norton Singers current production
is Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma". Based on the
play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs, the show is
about the high spirited rivalry between the local
farmers and cowboys where two stubborn prairie
kids, Curly, a cowboy and Laurey, a farm girl, live.
They refuse to admit their true feelings for each other
and eventually fall in love. The show originally opened
on Broadway on March 31, 1943 and ran for 2212
performances. Director Ted Mitchell infuses this show
with high energy from start to finish while musical
director Anthony Torelli keeps the large orchestra and
huge cast in perfect harmonic blend all night long and
the choreography by Judee and Courtney Bottomley is
perfect especially the dream ballet segment which
enthralls you with its beauty and intensity. This is a
first rate production of a classic musical and it is
rewarded with a standing ovation at the close of the
show.
Ted blocks his 38 member cast
beautifully to keep the show moving constantly from one
scene to another while Tony keeps the tempos of the
songs upbeat and never dragging. His orchestra sounds
like a Broadway ensemble and the strings are exquisite
with their perfect blend with no screeching heard at
all. Judee and Courtney's dances are fantastic and the
ballet segment shows how a dream can turn into a
nightmare and the action is done all by the dancing of
the main characters. They also found good male dancers
for the "Kansas City" dance and the "Farmer and Cowman"
dance. The combination of two step, square dance, ballet
and other dance steps are amazing and the entire cast
shines in their dance numbers. The costumes by Barbara
and Ida May Molitor and Jodi Pardy are gorgeous,
colorful and plentiful and the sets are easily moved on
and off during the show, keeping transitions running
smoothly. The lighting and sound are topnotch and add
the finishing touches to an outstanding presentation.
The two leads in this show are
perfectly cast with their fabulous voices, impeccable
acting and their strong dancing ability. Ken Butler is
not only dashing as Curly but gives the role the needed
humor to make him a likeable cowboy. His strong voice
sells his opening number, "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin"
as well as "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" and his
lead vocal in "Oklahoma". His powerful stage presence
helps to make Curly a memorable character in this show.
Carey Ann Fisher, a lovely brunette, is splendid as
Laurey. She gives the character a backbone so she is
able to stand up for herself as well as being sweet and
tender when needed. Carey's soprano voice is superb and
she soars off the charts on the duet with Curly, "People
Will Say We're in Love" and her solos "Many a New Day"
where she sings that it will be a long time before she
finds the man she will love and "Out of My Dreams" where
she will find him in her dreams which leads into the
dream ballet segment which she does her own dancing
wonderfully, too.
The supporting cast is equally
talented, led by Linda Bardwell's feisty and lovable
Aunt Eller. She shows the strength that was needed back
in 1907 when a woman had to be strong to survive in the
wilderness. Linda's mother earth character gets to have
fun during the show in the auction scene, "The Farmer
and Cowman" song where she points her gun at everyone to
stop a fight and her flirting scenes with Curly to make
him realize he is in love with Laurey. The funniest pair
of characters in this show are Will Parker and Ado
Annie. Kevin Mischley is a hoot as the dumb country
bumpkin who has trouble keeping his girlfriend in line.
His facial expressions when he is wooing Annie are right
on the money and his singing and dancing are excellent
in "Kansas City" and "All or Nothing" duet with
Courtney. Kevin handles this comic part with ease after
playing the sinister and evil Jekyll and Hyde last year.
Courtney Bottomley is fabulous as Ado Annie. She is a
triple threat performer and this role really shows off
her talent. Courtney is hilarious in "Can't Say No" (a
real trouper she kept in character when the show was
stopped for a medical emergency and picked up during the
reprise of this number as if nothing happened, proving
the old adage the show must go on to be absolutely
true.) She makes all her one liners count and leaves the
audience laughing all night long. Glenn Fournier plays
Ali Hakim the womanizing peddler who likes to flirt and
mess around with every pretty girl he meets. He wears a
loud blue plaid suit which is a hoot he gets to sing
"It's a Scandal, It's a Outrage" where he complains
about having to marry a girl because of her father's
shotgun. Ali's flirting ways catch up to him when he
marries the constantly laughing, Gertie Cummings who
pursued Curly throughout the show. Jen Mischely who is 6
months pregnant with Warren, acts and even dances up a
storm in this show. (Best wishes to Kevin, Jen and
Warren on their acting family.) The villain of the show
is smarmy, evil murdering, stalker, Jud Fry. Peter
Molitor fits this role perfectly. He scares the audience
during the show and he gets to show off his powerful
voice in Jud's soliloquy "Lonely Room" where he is sick
of looking at his naked women photos on the walls and
wants to get a real woman instead. It is a very powerful
song and its intensity is felt from it.
Ty Waterman plays Annie's father who
threatens Ali with a gun, argues with Will over his
engagement to his daughter and sings of his dislike for
the cowboys in "The Farmer and Cowman" song. Don Powers
as Skidmore and Bob Molitor as Cord Elam add some comic
moments to the show in the trial scene in the second
act. One of the standout dancers in this show is Joseph
Arsenault as Slim. Having played Will Parker in his high
school production a couple of years ago, Joseph handles
the role and dance steps with the ability of a well
seasoned pro. Kudos to all the dancers who handled the
difficult moves with ease. So for an excellent rendition
of a classic musical, be sure to catch "Oklahoma" at
Norton Players. Tell them Tony sent you.
OKLAHOMA! (3 - 12 June, 2005)
Norton Players, Wheaton
College, 26 East Main Road, Norton, MA
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