The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-23

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"OklahomaI" Is one Of those NIT
steal shows that you take to your
heart and remember for long,
long time. Don't let anyone tell you
It Is another "Show Boat" or Music
In the Air" because It lacks the
story pull Of those two titans, but
1t has q score, lyrics, dancing and
an all-rouild good hunlor that place
it high on the list OF memories.
The sponsor Is (surprise) the The
alter Guild, which has done an out
standing Job Of presentation Of this
frolic based on the Lynn Riggs folk
play, Green Grows the Lilacs,"
which was q Guild production some
10 years ago. There isn't enough
plot left to get in anyone's way
Just a cowboy sparkling q girl and
overcoming some opposition from
the gal and a no.good skunk
which is just as well, because the
emphasis Is all on the singing and
dancing to one Of the finest scores
Richard Rodgers has turned out In
the almost twenty years he has
been composing music for Broad
way shows.
This incidentally, is Rodgers first
lob without Lorenz Hart, who al"
ways has done the lyrics for Rodg-
srs' tunes. just a temporary split
up they say and we hope. However,
in Oscar Hammerstein I'd he has o
lyricist who Is as near tops as they
come (the aforementioned SHOW
Boat and "Music In The Air" were
ETammerstein creatiorS), ana ne Is
really in the groove with this new
one.
Among the tunes carrying forward
this tale Of life in the Indian Ter
ritory shortly before 1t acquired
statehood as Oklahoma are, "Oh,
What A Beautiful Morning." ''The
Surrey with the Fringe on the
Top" "Kansas CITY," II Can't Say
No." MANY New Day People
win Say" land what a tune that
one Isl, "Pore judi" "Out Of MY
Dreams" "All 'er Notfin'," and
"Oklahoma."
Singing these songs are as per-
eonable q lot of stage people, none
of them stars, as you would want
to face across the footlights. Alfred
Drake, who plays the cowboy, has
one of the best voices along Broad
way; Joan Roberts, the heart in
terest. is virtually an unknown, but
her singing and all-round perform
ance are all you could wish: Lee
Dixon, gangling dancer-comedian.
has never appeared to better adj
vantage; Celeste Holm, q good ac-
.ress in straight plays and one Of
he Streets most beautiful women,
demonstrates her versatility by TAX
ing to song and dance like vaude-
vile gamin; Joseph Buloff makes
his part as peddler outstanding,
as he does all his roles, and Betty
Garde Is good as an outSpoken
frontier woman.
The dancing, which is an integral
part of the production and not just
few heel and toe numbers, is the
creation of Agnes de Mile, who has
been q big name in domestic ballet
circles for several years. George
Church. Marc Plat. Katharine Ser
gava, Kate Friedrich and Joan Me-
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roles, and they are superb.
Reuben Mamoulian, who has been
in charge of many outstanding
Guild productions, directed; Lemuel
Ayres did the settings and Miles
White created the costumes.
This is one Of those shows that
simply must be seen-and not Just
once.
A S for the "F'ollies." it has Milton
IA Berle working like mad from
curtain to curtain and that is an
extremely fortunate thing. He
mugs. sings. dances and piles on the
jokes In tireless fashion to carry
what otherwise would be q medi-
Ocre production.
Another bright spot is a newcom-
er to the big Broadway shows, Sue
Ryan. Q rasping- voiced. don't-give-
a-hOot comedian who seems destin-
ed to go places. Jack Cole, the
dancer and choreographer who has
made q name for himself by CON-
bining Oriental and modern dance
rhythms for some unusual effects.
has two good numbers, one being
THE wedding Of q Solid Sender
which Is Just what 1t sounds like.
and the other being an East Indian
dance with variations.
Nadine Gay and Tommy Wonder.
among the top dance favorites, are
at their best; Dean Murphy Is an
able mimic who specializes In the
Roosevelts: Il0na Massey Is ex-
trenely beautiful and sings the ro.