It’s not true that the last surviving passenger of the Titanic, who died this week, was also the last surviving person to have attended the Broadway opening of “Oklahoma!”
It just seems that old.
Hey, we all have our biases. Mine against “Oklahoma!” goes back almost as far as its 1943 debut. (C’mon! World War II hadn’t even ended!).
When I was teaching high-school theater, the principal nixed a gritty, original project we were planning that would explore real problems in our schools. Too hot. And what did she want instead? “Something fun and festive!” she said. Like what?
“How about . . . ‘Oklahoma!’ “?
“Oh, you mean the one with the nymphomaniac teenage girl; the warring neighbors; and the creepy- crawler arsonist with the nudie pictures who wants to murder the guy who tried to trick him into committing suicide?
“That one?”
No, silly, she said . . . “Oklahoma!”
Seriously, we need another “Oklahoma!” like we need another Nebraska.
Unless, surprise, surprise, that “Oklahoma!” turns out to be as energetic and realized as the Town Hall Arts Center’s unexpectedly terrific new staging in Littleton. It’s got outstanding voices, complex dances and, best, an impossibly winning Laurey and Curly.
That would be Seth Caikowski, who could give Hugh Jackman a run for his charm, and wonderful newcomer Elisa Spencer, a recent University of Colorado grad with a timeless beauty, requisitely hardened façade and classically trained singing voice.
Though it’s too sweet at times, director Robert Wells’ staging passes all the major smell tests. By the end of the opening, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” the shamelessly dashing Caikowski could take his pick among the bluehairs in the house. Then out comes Spencer with that tomboy toughness complementing her forlorn, Faye Dunaway eyes. A wonderful flirtation ensues. To quote another musical, they go together.
One by one we meet support characters who, for the most part, pass muster (and mustard). The big test comes with the freaky psycho-nightmare ballet, in which restless Laurey dreams Jud Fry will murder Curly and steal her away. This is where many small companies are exposed. Instead, choreographer Kelly Kates turns it into the evening’s defining moment.
Rodgers and Hammerstein revolutionized Broadway because they respected their villains enough to make them substantive. They infused their stories with metaphors, psychological underpinnings . . . and some pretty good songs. This score serves up one memorable tune after another.
It was Trevor Nunn’s British revival (starring Jackman) that dared to show a harder Aunt Eller, a duplicitous Curly and a truly menacing Jud. Ryan Buehler’s creepy Jud gets down and dirty, but his fine singing voice is too anachronistically clean for such a pathological character.
There are other small beefs. The music is tracked (but well-tracked), and the tone is inconsistent, particularly an Ado Annie (Heather Doris) who’s so adorable that she’s not quite living on the same frontier as the other characters.
Jan Giese’s Aunt Eller is a solid anchor, but she could stand to tone down her 100-watt smile at times. Matthew J. Doty, sadly, never picks up a rope for “Kansas City,” but he raises the energy many kilowatts as the lovably dumb Will Parker. And Michael Emmitt shows surprising comic adroitness pulling off the tricky role of the Persian peddler who wants most to peddle off an unwanted bride.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
“Oklahoma” *** (out of four stars)
An OK musical. Presented by Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Written by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Directed by Robert Wells. Through June 28. 2 hours, 45 minutes. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; plus 2 p.m. June 13 and 27, and 6:30 p.m. June 21. 21-$36. 303-794-2787 or or
Audio bonus: Ricardo Baca talks with “Rent” stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp
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Original “Rent” stars Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal are back as Mark and Roger in the musical’s touring production, which opens Tuesday at the Buell Theatre. “There’s a part of me that’s really proud of the fact that we’re still in good shape and that we look young enough to be able to do this,” Rapp said. Read Ricardo Baca’s exclusive interview .
And listen to nine minutes of audio excerpts from that interview .
Audio bonus: John Moore talks with “A Bronx Tale” star Chazz Palminteri
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Chazz Palminteri grew up in the 1950s amid crime lords clashing with old-fashioned values at home. He turned those experiences into a hit one-man play that changed his life. Well, that and Robert De Niro. Now, as he returns to the stage role in Denver that launched his career, Palminteri talks about how he was offered $1 million for the rights to “A Bronx Tale.” He said no, until he was allowed to write the screenplay and play the role of mob boss Sonny. De Niro said yes. Read John Moore’s interview .
And listen to nine minutes of audio excerpts from that interview .
Video bonus: Chazz Palminteri addresses Denver Post readers directly
Stage and screen star Chazz Palminteri talks directly to Denver Post readers about why they should come see his one-man play, “A Bronx Tale” at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House from June 9-21. Run time: 1 minute
This weekend’s Best Bet: PHAMALy at Stories on Stage
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Stories read aloud. Each month Stories on Stage presents local actors performing dramatic readings of short fiction, with each program built around a theme. On Sunday, Stories on Stage teams with the handicapped theater company PHAMALy for a program championing contributions by persons with disabilities. “We Are PHAMALy” will take on stories by Raymond Carver and Karen Bender, as well as its own “Don’t Cry for Me, Jerry Lewis.” 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Jones Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex (303-494-0523 or ).
John Moore
This weekend’s theater openings
“All Shook Up” The story of a small-town girl with big dreams, and the leather-jacketed, guitar-playing stranger who steals her heart. With a score of more than 20 Elvis Presley hits. Through Aug. 15. Carousel Dinner Theatre, 3509 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or
“The Fantasticks”
Classic musical about two teenagers in love whose fathers have hatched a plan to get them down the aisle. Through Sept. 26 (another staging also continues at the Victorian Playhouse). Thin Air Theatre, 139 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, 719- 235-8944 or
“I’m Not Rappaport” Tony-winning best play of 1986 about two New York octogenarians determined to fight off all attempts to put them out to pasture. Through July 12. Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or
“Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire?”
Interactive mystery dinner theater. Here, your presence is requested at the reading of the will for a recently deceased multibillionaire. Through July 18. Adams Mystery Playhouse, 2406 Federal Blvd., 303-455-1848 or
“The Wizard of Oz” The classic odyssey taken by Dorothy and her pals the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Toto to the imaginary land of Oz. Through Aug. 23. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747, 1-877- 240-4242 or
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings or
The Running Lines theater blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of theater news and dialogue. This week, the talk’s all about the recently closed new Denver Civic Theatre.
