Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma

[DodgerGirl]

I have the 1998 cast album of Rodgers And Hammerstein's Oklahoma and I saw that Hugh Jackman performed on Oklahoma and it made me want to ask if anyone has seen Rodgers And Hammerstein's Oklahoma in your lifetime? It's supposed to be one of the best musicals ever made and is known for the songs Surrey With The Fringe On Top and the popular song Oh, What A Beautiful Morning and if you get a chance Google Hugh Jackman singing Oh, What A Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma and you'll be surprised at how awesome Hugh sings this song so well

 

[barkley]

i've seen the original movie and performed in a college production of the musical play. I look back on it and in hindsight I see some really cringy/unforgivable aspects to the show such that I doubt any schools or community theatre groups would opt to do a production these days (and back when I did it we drew our biggest crowds for it and other Rogers and Hammerstein creations).

 

[DodgerGirl]

I can't figure out why Oklahoma seems to be one of the popular musicals of Rodgers And Hammerstein but for some reason people seem to like it. Did you ever watch the 1998 version with Hugh Jackman Barkley? I have seen it a lot of times and Hugh Jackman is superb in it. And the musical version with Shirley Jones is great also

 

[Babs Johnson]

Both my high school and university’s drama department produced Oklahoma! but I never saw a professional performance. I may have seen the movie decades ago; I really don’t remember.

 

[mjkacmom]

In the 80’s a friend had a Betamax, Oklahoma was one of three tapes she owned.

 

[White Cat]

I have seen many Broadway shows and there are 2 that I did not care for. Oklahoma!, and Cats.

 

[sam_gordon]

i've seen the original movie and performed in a college production of the musical play. I look back on it and in hindsight I see some really cringy/unforgivable aspects to the show such that I doubt any schools or community theatre groups would opt to do a production these days (and back when I did it we drew our biggest crowds for it and other Rogers and Hammerstein creations).

Pretty sure that was the show our local HS did last month.

 

[barkley]

Pretty sure that was the show our local HS did last month.

I'm very surprised-i figure the whole scene/song 'pore jud is daid' would take it out of consideration. the official Rogers and Hammerstein website's description of the song even spells out the intent-

Curly pays Jud a visit in his smokehouse and sings this wry, goading eulogy to belittle the menacing farmhand into taking his own life.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm very surprised-i figure the whole scene/song 'pore jud is daid' would take it out of consideration. the official Rogers and Hammerstein website's description of the song even spells out the intent-

Curly pays Jud a visit in his smokehouse and sings this wry, goading eulogy to belittle the menacing farmhand into taking his own life.

I didn't go see it (DD did). Maybe they took that song out?

I've never seen the show, just familiar with a couple of the songs.

 

[Marrila]

I'm very surprised-i figure the whole scene/song 'pore jud is daid' would take it out of consideration. the official Rogers and Hammerstein website's description of the song even spells out the intent-

Curly pays Jud a visit in his smokehouse and sings this wry, goading eulogy to belittle the menacing farmhand into taking his own life.

That song is often taken out. Most directors understand what is sensitive or appropriate has changed over the years.

 

[RedAngie]

I participated on the stage crew in high school and one year we produced Oklahoma. I was an extra in a crowd scene too. That song mentioned above was included. Spring 1976.

 

[Marrila]

I participated on the stage crew in high school and one year we produced Oklahoma. I was an extra in a crowd scene too. That song mentioned above was included. Spring 1976.

I'm not overly surprised it was included nearly 50 years ago.

 

[NotUrsula]

I never did like Oklahoma the show. Even when I was a kid back in the 1960s, it always struck me as being the sort of condescending jingoistic claptrap that a couple of theatre-raised native New Yorkers would think was greatly amusing about "country folk." (And I had plenty of family in NYC, so it wasn't like I was buying fully into that stereotype, either.) Many critics have opined that Oklahoma was meant to be an allegory about the spread of fascism in Europe, but I think that if that was the case, then the point was too subtle for most viewers, who tend to think that the Oklahoma frontier depicted in the show was meant to be a nostalgically wonderful place (in spite of, or heck, maybe because of, all the fighting and horndogging going on.)

I generally like R&H musicals, but that one has always been the one I'm happy to skip. (South Pacific also has some very problematic stereotypes and interactions, but for me, anyway, the music and the physical comedy in SP is good enough that it makes it easier for me to get past that. I don't feel the same about the songs in Oklahoma.)