Jared Torgeson

Oklahoma Reflection
Musical Theatre
March 25, 2019
Does the Wind Really Sweep Down the Plain?

I would first like to preface this reflection by saying that although Oklahoma! as a
musical would not be my first choice, I think there are so many wonderful opportunities
to show spectacle and a variety of different styles of dancing, acting, and singing as well
as many different possibilities for success in areas of design. I think sometimes I forget
the masterpiece this show truly is. That being said, it is interesting to look at the notes I
took while watching the musical and to think more in-depth about how each part of the
production works together. There are many directions this show could be taken and it is
very educational to discover where this specific production succeeds and where it lacks.
Starting off, the production concept was successful in the sense that there was a
strong sense of continuity when considering the time period as well as the various other
elements that are part of a production. The production had a flow that was incredible
smooth and from the actors to the technicians, there was a strong sense of
connectedness and communication. The execution in all elements was very precise and
despite it being a lengthy production, it did not seem to drag. The musical numbers
were at an appropriate and understandable tempo, the orchestra and the singing
meshed well together to create a balanced sound, dance numbers were cohesive and
clean, and the characters truly represented people that would have lived in Oklahoma at
this time. Adding on to that, the relationships between characters were established
quickly and accurately for the viewer. A critique about the realism versus the fantasy of
this musical is at times I felt as though it switched from a very realistic moment to one
that was incredibly dramatic. Those transitions felt abrupt from a viewer standpoint and I
found myself focusing more on that than the developing plot at times.
The first aspect about Oklahoma is the rotating set. I could imagine a number of
shows that would work with a rotating set, and at first, I was completely unaware the set
was actually rotating. I had reservations about it at first but as the show progressed, I
thought that it not only made transitions quite seamless but also made the show feel
more alive, and in a sense kept it “moving”. As a general statement, I thoroughly
enjoyed the simplicity of the scenic design. Having never seen this version, I was
curious to see how it would be done, because I have seen it done more elaborately. I
think the minimalistic set not only added to the lifestyle of the characters and created a
sense of continuity, but it also allowed the show to be more about the performance of
the actors. Despite the simplicity, there were a lot of noticeable and intricate details
throughout the set design. It was also a very creative set, especially where the auction
was at that barn. I enjoyed that it was just the skeleton of the building as it allowed for
more movement between the building and the set still felt open and spacious. The
openness of the set even with the house, or the fence, or the wedding tables, was
incredible. It was a large stage, but the placement of set pieces worked so well
throughout. With all of this plus a beautiful backdrop, I could see how an audience
member would truly feel transported to a farm in the state of Oklahoma. On the opposite
end, though I think the corn bits were funny, it took me a little bit out of the show. Having
cornstalks that high for a mildly realistic show just did not make a lot of sense for me. I
did not really understand the point of doing that.
Next, I would like to comment on the lighting of the show. Personally, I think this
design was perfect for the show. It was very well executed, accurate, and provided a
sense of realism during necessary parts, but also a dramatic change during moments
such as the inside of Judd’s shed or during the dream sequence. I was genuinely
pleased with the colors used to make the stage bright and warm, but not overwhelming.
Specifically looking at Judd’s shed, it was very surprising to me because it felt as though
I was not only outside of the theatre, but simultaneously felt as though I had completely
changed sets. The ability to make an audience member watching a movie of the live
production feel as though they are completely immersed is something very incredible.
On the opposite end, it may not have made complete sense to do such dramatic
changes in the lighting because the majority of the show does take place in mostly one
day.
The other section of the show in which the lighting really stood out to me was the
dream sequence. Even though this moment in the show was during the day, I really
enjoyed the way in which the backdrop adjusted in color to show this was a dream and
to give an evening feeling, but as the sequence became more intense, the backdrop
color changed as well as pieces of the lighting. The colors reflected the intensity of the
dream Lori was having a nightmarish dream. All of these lighting changes that reflect
the overall mood of the scene drew me in as a viewer. To wrap it all up I would like to
touch on the costume design of the show. This of course is a period show, and I really
enjoyed the costumes. There was a nice balance a varying pattern but also in color
schemes that worked well in against the scenic design and the lighting design. From the
simplistic cowboy outfits, to the floral skirts, there was a great sense verisimilitude that
was so continuous throughout these three parts of the production concept. It is easy to
see that the process was not taken lightly and the details of each piece of the puzzle
were thoughtfully placed to ensure that this production would have success.
Switching the conversation to the musical execution of Oklahoma, even though it
is a professional production, it still has a lot of aspects that can be praised and critiqued.
Widely known as the ‘grown up version’ of the integrated musical, I think it really set a
high bar in a variety of ways. The concept of the conditional love song worked so well in
this specific production. The characters of this production created such a chemistry that
was only strengthened by the lyrics of a song in which they will never admit they love
each other. Onto another idea, it is an interesting concept to think the musical was
nearing half a century old when this production was playing. That being said, I think the
timeless story of these characters was still very well done. My only qualm with this
musical is the song in which Curly tries to convince Judd to kill himself. From a modern
eye, I wish this part of the musical could be rewritten or cut. However, that moment is
also essential to the plot as a whole and would be impossible to eliminate completely.
Despite the complications, I also understand if you put yourself in the years in which this
musical was written, when mental health was a subject never discussed, this portion of
the musical does seem more logical. The modern beliefs I have simply conflict with the
idea of it being acceptable to say what Curly as a character says to Judd.
Another important aspect to discuss is the style of singing and dancing. Though
the dancing may not have been realistic, I thought it functioned very well. This is clearly
a more ‘American cowboy’ influenced musical and there were many elements of dance
styles such as line dancing and swing dancing. There was a lot of cowboy flare added
to the dancing as well. The most intriguing part of the production however, was the
inclusion of ballet as a dance style in tandem with this American cowboy was a
combination I would have never expected. That being said, I thought it was a very nice
touch to the production and made the dances more entertaining for the viewer. Seeing
the mixture of the two dance styles come together seamlessly was fascinating to
experience. Next is the style of singing for the show which was very impressive. It had
enough accent for me that I could clearly tell I was in the southern part of the United
States. I enjoyed the varying mix of speak singing and classically trained tones. The
actors had very clear diction through the words that were sometimes in weird
sentences, accents, or at quick tempos. I liked the brightness the characters put in their
voice as well because I thought it functioned for the style of music during this period but
also worked well with the characterization and musicality of each song.
Moving on the character development of actors in Oklahoma! there is one
character that was the most worthwhile to analyze. Firstly, there is Aunt Eller, who is the
reigning matriarch of the production. From the moment she sat outside the house
churning butter until the last heart to heart she has with Lori, the stage presence she
has is incredibly powerful. The character that Maureen Lipman created is a woman that
has been hardened by life, but will simultaneously be a leader, confidant, and friend to
all those in her community. She may have a tough personality and may not show her
love in a gentle manner, but Lipman thought about this woman, who she would be in
reality, her past experiences, and how she would function in this small town of people.
The other characters seemingly gravitate toward her because she radiates a sense of
wisdom. I think the connection she has with Lori was so honest. Her character had a
true sense of care and support for Lori and even though she has been hardened by life,
she still has enough love in her heart to support those she cares about. On the opposite
of the spectrum, she was a complete spitfire. The character Lipman was able to make
was so unapologetic and demanded a presence. I think the dialogue between Eller and
other characters allows for a woman who has agency and is given respect, but with the
inflections and tone Lipman used in her lines was very powerful and had feminist
tendencies. Despite not being one of the most central characters and not having much
room for character development throughout the show, she managed to embody a story
of an aged woman that the audience did not necessarily need to know, but throughout
the show, wanted to know more and more. She simultaneously brought a wide variety of
emotions to my heart, entertained me, and was so dedicated to the character she
became when that downbeat started.
In conclusion, referencing back to the title of this reflection, I think that the wind in
this production truly and completely did come sweeping down the plain. Clearly a high-
level of professionals created this version of Oklahoma and though there were some
areas that were not successful for me, this production created art in the best way
possible. As a general overview, I think this version had a wide array of talent and
brought the elements that create this idea of an integrated musical together very
eloquently and masterfully. From lighting design to dance styles, characterization to
orchestra, each piece of this production showed their hard work and created something
beautiful.