| Yes, Michael, I am kind of remembering from the movie that, while maybe Laurey doesn't horsewhip Jud, I believe that she does push him out of the carriage, perhaps making him fall to the ground, and she takes off, leaving him behind. I forget how this is handled in the stage version. But this rejection of Jud is rather humiliating to the guy, considering that Laurey agreed to go out with him in the first place. When I first posted my feelings about this issue in "Oklahoma!" years ago (I think it was my first detailed posting to ATC), one actress replied that she hated playing Laurey because, while on the surface she's this pretty young girl, underneath she's really very selfish, spoiled and not that nice of a person playing with Jud's feelings and all. You're right, though, that she and Curley do make for an interesting, but flawed couple, who happen to have some great songs to sing in the show. Frankly, I'd rather spend more time with Ado Annie, Will Parker and Ali Hakim who are all pretty darn nice folks, certainly in comparison to the leads. |
