| I never had any interest in “Oklahoma”, which seemed just too old-fashioned, even though it was once revolutionary. When this production came along, I was interested in seeing a fresh take, and expected to side with those who liked it. However, I detested the road company production, not because of the reinterpretation of the text, or the reconception of the score (which I found interesting), but because of its absolute and complete lack of theatricality. Actors delivered songs while seated sideways upstage at folding chairs and tables, in a single bare set, with hospital emergency room lighting (except of course when all the lights went out). I felt like I was seeing a first day table read in the least attractive room at Ripley-Grier. The performances seemed lackadaisical, and I suspected that was due to deliberate direction – Fish seemed determined to wring every bit of stage magic out of the show. I'm guessing that I would have liked it better had I seen it at Circle in the Square, and not on a proscenium (and there certainly was no one in the road company with the spark of Ali Stroker). But with a cast that was seldom directed to deliver songs in a way that created a connection with the audience, and a production design bereft of lighting cues or scenery changes to create mood or emotion (other than a blackout), I felt like the whole thing had contempt for the audience. |
