OKLAHOMA – Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein; Music by Richard Rodgers; Directed by Tracy Salzbrenner; Music Direction by Dean Rees; Choreography by Rene Ruiz and Desiree Goheen. Produced by Picketwire Players (802 San Juan Drive, La Junta). Tickets for future shows can be reserved at 719-384-8320 or picketwireplayers.com.
It’s hard to review a show that only runs one weekend but I wanted you readers to know about a thoroughly enjoyable production I witnessed recently in La Junta put together by the Picketwire Players. Picketwire Players are celebrating their 56th year of productions with this classic musical, their 171st show. Shortly after forming the group in 1968, they were able to obtain a spacious school building that they have spent time and money on completely refurbishing with comfortable seating and state-of-the-art equipment, as a result of a devoted Board of Directors and following in the community. This is not a group that fools around with high school level scripts; OKLAHOMA is a huge show and they brought it off, complete with a peddler’s cart, a windmill, and even a surrey with a fringe on the top. For Pete’s sake, their show before this one was NEXT TO NORMAL. That one’s no picnic.
As this is community theatre, there are levels of experience and talent. But, as in everything, the important aspect is that they are all committed to the project, rehearsed diligently, and completed their commitment. It’s obvious that they were all having fun and were playing WITH each other as well as TO the audience. So much fun to watch the cast having so much fun.
Of special note in this cast would be Emma Bryant who sang Laurie with sweetness, and danced with grace, all the while keeping a twinkle in her eye letting you know she was the smartest girl in the room. Her partner in crime Ado Annie was given whimsy and humor by Bethany Taullie. In a first-ever performance, Jonathan Colson gave an admirable turn as Curlie. In a double-cast role, Darlene Blackford played the role of Aunt Eller with energy and authenticity. Noah Nunez-Rebel danced his boots off as a smitten Will Parker. His competition with Cody Rogers as the itinerant peddler Ali Hakem – neither of whom really wanted to get married – was sweetly comical. Another shining star in this evening was the menacing angry Tom Seaba as Jud Fry. Not only was Seaba’s Jud the requisite bad guy, he also imbued him with a loneliness and despair that gave his personality reason. And Jansen Ediger had a laugh that made your teeth hurt !
Tracy Salzbrenner as Director at times moved 31 people around on the stage. A formidable task to say the least. This was a show that needed a full crowd on the stage for several scenes, but it did seem a little crowded at times. The set and set pieces were brilliantly imagined and they pulled off a couple of surprises during the action.
While this one weekend show is over (sorry!), they have two more scheduled before the end of the year: the melodrammer THE SNEAKY CITIZENS OF SADDLESORE CITY in October and two fun evenings of MASKED SINGERS in December.
A WOW factor of 8.25!!