The Trevor Nunn production of OKLAHOMA! seemed to have gotten a rapturous reception in London, but, by the time the production had made its way to New York, something got lost in translation. Maybe it was the hype, which would have been difficult for any production to live up to, or maybe it was because New York saw almost an entirely new cast that was minus Hugh Jackman, who'd become a movie star in the interim. Could it be that the largely British cast in London found something in this material that really made it soar in a way that their American successors were not? My parents happened to catch the show in London and loved it...aside from some issues with accents, which they found amusing. They enjoyed it in New York, but weren't raving about it the way they had before.
That much delayed and much anticipated OKLAHOMA! finally came and everyone sort of collectively shrugged their shoulders.
That was a sharp contrast to the Nicholas Hytner production of CAROUSEL in the mid-90's, which was able to replicate its London acclaim in New York and perhaps even surpass it, while also launching a brand new star in Audra McDonald. |
