OKLAHOMA! way Okay

Dust off them cowboy boots, buff up that there Stetson, hitch up your get-along and high-tail it down to the Opera House Players thigh-slappin’, two-steppin’ production of “OKLAHOMA!” at the Broad Brook Opera House in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor.
For them poor folks who have gone through life without the heart-warming pleasure of seeing this musical, don’t wait another cotton-pickin’, hood-blinkin’ minute.
“OKLAHOMA!” the musical was the first of many box office smashes by the prolific team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and was originally produced on Broadway in 1943.
With classic tunes like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” which kicks off the show, sung with confidence and clarity by David R. Pelletier playing Curly McLain, to the unforgettable “Oklahoma!,” as well as the sweet love duet, “People Will Say We’re In Love,” and everything in between, the music is as memorable as a June bug in December, and twice as delicious as a sweet potato pie.
Pelletier’s voice is a joy to hear, which is a good thing, because he sings a lot. He and Jessica Ferraday, playing the lovely, sweet, and feisty Laurie Williams, exhibit a real affection towards each other, which is moving to watch.
Ferraday’s voice too is lovely and clear. In fact, every gosh dern one of the cast members, from the leads all the way down to the smallest parts, exhibited excellent diction — not a single word was lost, and their voices were all pitch-perfect.
The plot is straightforward. Set in a time when Oklahoma was still a territory and not yet a state, a cowboy, Curly is in love with a farm girl, Laurey Williams, who loves him too, but is a bit coy. Then there is the farm hand, Jud Fry, who wants to possess Laurey for his own.
Keith Paul, who plays Jud Fry, brings a scary menace to his role that provides real gravitas to the production, adding immeasurably to the show’s intensity.
A second love story in the show has a more comic bend to it, with Nicole R. Giguere playing Ado Annie Carnes to the hilt. Giguere practically steals the show with her sly winks and smiles, singing that darlin’ song “I Can’t Say Know.”
Will Parker, who is head-over-heels in love with Annie, is played by Bruce LaRoche with fine comic timing — his character oozes oodles of effervescent energy while at the same time amusingly showing that he isn’t the sharpest tack in the saddle bag.
The Persian peddler Ali Hakim, played by Larry Marino, lends a surprising depth to a role that could have easily been reduced a stereotypical, two-dimensional caricature.
Moonyean Field, who played Aunt Eller, did a fine job as the matriarchal glue holding the various strands of the show together.
The orchestra, lead expertly by musical director Amy Crawford, was small but just right for this venue. Occasionally orchestras can unintentionally overpower singers, but that was never the case here. They showed admirable restraint throughout the production.
The Opera House Players really embrace and epitomize the “community” in Community Theater. Before the show they held a teacup action and fund-raiser to help pay for these significantly expensive productions and after the show all the actors stood along the stairwell in a receiving line, greeting each patron as they exited the theater.
So, what ‘er y’all a-waiting fer? Hitch up the wagon and mosey on down a-fore it’s too late and see OKLAHOMA! at the Broad Brook Opera House.


Three Stars

Theater: Opera House Players

Location: Broad Brook Opera House, 107 Main Street, East Windsor

Production: Music by Richard Rodgers. Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Direction and choreography by Lesley Gallagher. Music direction by Amy Crawford. Choreography by Lesley Gallagher. Fight choreography and weapon master Michael Corman. Stage manager Jessica Russell. Assistant stage manager Tom Russell. Lighting design and operator Diane St. Armand. Sound design and operator Devon Gamache. Set design David A. Gilfor. Costumes by Moonyean Field. House manager Michelle Tetrault

Running time: Under 3 hours, with one intermission

Show Times: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 25.

Tickets: $20, seniors over 60 and youth under 12 pay $12. Call 860-292-6068 or visit their website at www.operahouseplayers.org

ACTOR...CHARACTER
Moonyean Field...Aunt Eller
David R. Pelletier...Curly McLain
Jessica Ferraday...Laurey Williams
Michael Corman...Ike Skidmore
Jason Ellsworth...Slim
Bruce LaRoche...Will Parker
Keith Paul...Jud Fry
Nicole R. Giguere...Ado Annie Carnes
Larry Marino...Ali Hakim
Khara C. Hoyer...Gertie
Jim Metzler...Andrew Carnes (Judge)
Jim Byrne...Cord Elam
Lee Helwig...Tom
Philip D. Vetro...Fred
Sarah Lewis...Aggie
Claudia J. Pospisil...Virginia
Renee Rehmer...Dream Laurey/Sylvie
Betsy Ellsworth...Vivienne
Kera Keene...Kate