San Diego Playbill

It's so rare that a show is able to put together a cast with so many fantastic performers. The Welk Resort Theatre has truly outdone itself with its current production: Oklahoma!. This first of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classics includes several well-known Broadway hits including the title song Oklahoma!, Oh What a Beautiful Morning, People Will Say We're In Love, Kansas City, and The Surrey With The Fringe On Top. It's also packed full of great comedy. And the actors at the Welk more than do this classic musical justice with some better-than-classic performances.

Leading the cast is the cowboy Curly (Robert Townsend) and farmer's daughter Laurey (Jill Lewis). The story revolves around their comic courtship, made complicated by Laurey's dangerous would-be suitor, Jud Fry (Mark Slama). Curly and Laurey also sing most of the songs in the show, and singing is something that both Robert and Jill can do with the very best of them.

What I really love about this show is the hilarious love triangle between Ado "I Cain't Say No" Annie (Rebecca Greenwood), Will Parker (Joshua John Edwards), and the peddler man Ali Hakim (Barry Pearl). With her hysterical expressions, body language, and voice (both singing and talking), Rebecca's Ado Annie alone was enough to make me want to go back for a second show. She was complemented by Barry Pearl, best known for his portrayal of Doody in the smash-hit movie Grease!. But that fairly small part in Grease! doesn't reflect how talented he really is. The character of Ali Hakim allows Barry to really show off his impressive comic ability. And the third side of the triangle is Will Parker, played by Joshua John Edwards. Joshua's dancing and shocked/confused expressions just add to a masterful performance.

And there were even more great performances. Cathy Gene Greenwood (the mother of Rebecca Greenwood) was a lovable Aunt Eller. Mary Callahan came up with a perfectly obnoxious laugh for Gertie. And then there is Jud Fry (Mark Slama) singing Lonely Room, a haunting song left out of the film version.

And there's still more! What a job of dancing by the incredibly talented ensemble! And not just their dancing, but their animated acting while doing it. Their performances were assisted by some great choreography (John Charron). Somehow John made the small stage at the Welk Theatre seem like the cast had an area the size of the big outdoors for their dance floor. They all really shined during the "Laurey Dreams" sequence, a scene that bored me on the film but captivated me on the stage.

Obviously I enjoyed the show and highly recommend it to anyone who likes musicals, even if you've seen the film and didn't care for it. This stage version is better and a lot more fun!

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill

Aunt Eller: Cathy Greenwood
Curly: Robert Townsend
Laurey: Jill Lewis
Ike Skidmore: William Kerr
Fred: Geoffrey Washbrun
Slim: Charles Munn
Will Parker: Joshua John Edwards
Cord Elam: Chris Redding
Jud Fry: Mark Slama
Ado Annie Carnes: Rebecca Greenwood
Ali Hakim: Barry Pearl
Gertie Cummings: Mary Callahan
Andrew Carnes: Pat Hanrahan
Dream Laurey/Ensemble: Jessica Kissner
Dream Curly/Ensemble: Andy Fosmark
Ensemble: Jennifer Bennett
Ensemble: Julie Anna Hines
Ensemble: Megan Selensky

Director: Lewis Wilkenfeld
Choreographer: John Charron
Dance Capt.: Jennifer Bennett
Stage Manager: Jennifer Edwards
Set Design: Andy Hammer
Lighting Design: Jennifer Edwards