"Oklahoma" a "Whirlwind of Young Love"

Caught up in the whirlwind of young love, pretty farm girl Laurey Williams seems destined for a happy, if uneventful marriage to cowboy Curly McLain- until it's revealed that Jud Fry, a farmhand, has an obsessive interest in her. Welcome to "Oklahoma!".  Heritage High School took a traditional approach to this upbeat, emotionally compelling musical, and made it memorable through the skill and dedication of their many talented performers.

Based on the 1931 play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, and opening in 1943, “Oklahoma!” was the first musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and today it's a popular choice to produce in schools.  The musical chronicles Laurey's and Curly's romance, and the complications that ensue when Jud makes things dangerous for the happy-couple-to-be. In a hilarious sub-plot, Laurey’s free-wheeling friend Ado Annie is forced to make a decision between her wild ways and her love, Will Parker.

Heritage High School exhibited a wealth of talented performers. Christi McCarthy shone as Laurey. Her clear and obviously well-trained soprano was near pitch-perfect throughout the night, and her stage presence and thoughtful character choices gave her portrayal of Laurey a sense of realism. Chemistry simmered between McCarthy and Brandon Spann (Curly) during “People Will Say We’re in Love,” a humorous, yet ultimately very touching number that showed off the incredible vocal skill of these two performers. Spann’s performance was witty, believable, and indicative of incredible talent.

Christian Meudt,as the lecherous Jud Fry, was excellent. His emotional commitment was touching, bringing humanity to an otherwise despicable character, while his rich voice was a pleasure to listen to. His performance of “Pore Jud” was memorable and emotionally moving, the standout number of the night. Tyler Schulze was charming as Will Parker, displaying incredible skill as an actor, vocalist, and, perhaps most impressively, as a dancer. Especially in "Kansas City", his energetic movement and clear vocals were excellent. Throughout the production, the magnetism of Schulze and Hannah Johnson (Ado Annie), as well as their patent chemistry, made their relationship believable and fun to watch.  Johnson was bubbly and spirited, with a powerful belt, and her hilarious commitment in “Can’t Say No” incited laughter throughout the audience.

Heritage High School’s technical crews assisted skillfully in the execution of an incredible production. While the makeup was somewhat exaggerated, it aided in visibility and characterization of some actors. The sets, including the quaint Williams family farmhouse,  Jud's eerily realistic smokehouse turned home, their town's fairgrounds were realistic and simple, effectively transporting the audience into the Oklahoma territory.

This production's choreography was simply impeccable. Allison Perhach created numerous incredibly impressive dance numbers. The “Dream Ballet”, for which she was also principle dancer, was especially artistic, symbolic, and emotionally moving. The dancers at Heritage High School gracefully executed countless lifts, flips, and turns, while always maintaining synchronization. Furthermore, their dancing was expressive and emotional; the elements of dancing and acting were fused flawlessly.

“Oklahoma!” is a classic musical which requires a skillful and creative production team. The performers at Heritage High School made this tale new again with their passion for their roles and were a joy to watch.


by Siena Richardson of McLean

Editor's note: the Cappies, or "Critics and Awards Program," trains high school theater and journalism students to be professional critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers.