Rodgers & Hammerstein’s award winning musical has been given a new lease of life by director Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographer Drew McOnie. This seventy year old classic still has huge appeal as was evident by the number of people of all ages present on the opening night at the Bristol Hippodrome. It is a feel good factor show with an iconic musical score that includes Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, People Will Say We’re in Love, The Surrey With the Fringe on Top and The Farmer and the Cowman.

 

The musical set in Oklahoma in the early 1900’s tells the tale of the rivalries between the farming communities and the cowboys or cattle herders, a national economic depression that meant even more hardship for its poorer citizens. The songs are the story and lead you nicely through the show, played by a live ten piece orchestra led by musical director Ben Atkinson.

 

Cowboy Curly (Ashley Day) is in love with Laurey (Charlotte Wakefield) however, there is a third party interest Jud Fry (Nic Greenshields) porn obsessed menacing farm hand, full of desire who has other ideas, he sounded even more threatening when he began to sing -  what a voice. Ado Annie (Lucy May Barker) has two love interests cowboy Will (Simon Anthony) and Persian wares pedlar Ali Hakim (Gary Wilmot).

 

Each member of the cast worked incredibly hard, the choreography at times inspired - the dream ballet that brought Act 1 to a close was fabulous.

 

The set was primarily fixed with few changes, it worked well i particularly liked the climbing frame element.

 

This was a good old fashioned show, accompanying me was my 33 year old niece who loves musicals but surprisingly had not seen Oaklahoma - her verdict awesome!

 

Runs until Saturday, 18th July.