Thanks for posting the link. Very interesting, although it should be noted that this sentence is misleading:
"Riggs was in the Signal Service in Ohio, making training films, when a community theater production of Lilacs in Connecticut prompted Theresa Helburn to consider turning the play into a full-fledged musical."
The production at Westport Country Playhouse was not exactly community theatre, not with Betty Field as Laurey, and Mildred Natwick as Eller, and with John Ford credited as director, and Gene Kelly staging the dances. Although it seems that Ford never showed up because his movie commitments got in the way, and the production was really directed by the theater's co-director, John Haggott, with Haggott basing his staging on ideas he and Ford had discussed for the production. The theater was run by Lawrence Langner, and we all know his connection to Oklahoma!
Green Grow the Lilacs is a pretty fascinating play, and if produced now, some of it would seem very timely. |
