London High School musical is more than ‘OK’

By MICHAEL SHANNON

For The Madison Press

Oh what a beautiful musical.

There will be a bright golden haze surrounding London High School this weekend as a terrific troupe of young actors bring the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma, to the stage tonight through Saturday, each night beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students ages 6 and older. They are available at the door.

Curly McLain (played by Garrett Stout, left) does his best to sweet talk Laurey Williams (Rachael Richardson) in London High School’s version of ‘Oklahoma,’ on stage starting tonight in the school’s auditorium.

In a twist of irony, as this musical is highlighted by the excitement of its characters finding a new land to call their own, so too is the LHS theatre department embarking on new territory as the show marks the debut of Teri Gray as Director. Gray has led well a cast that encompasses a wide variety of ages. Assisting Gray is Kevin Lohr, who provides the crisp stage direction and blocking.

Rachael Richardson concludes a stellar high school theatre career in style as Laurey Williams. As has been the norm, Richardson brings the show’s most pleasant singing voice to the stage, this time as a woman coming of age.

Richardson has many fine moments in the show, but none more so as she leads the girls in the cast in a stalwart rendition of ‘Many a New Day.’

Rugged and handsome, Garrett Stout is chivalric as Curly McLain. Whether he is describing his mythical surrey or defending the honor of the woman he loves, Stout controls the stage.

Essential to the success of the show is chemistry that develops between Richardson and Stout. Playfully adversarial at times, the dynamic acting duo especially shines during one of the show’s best moments — “People Will Say We’re In Love.”

As one of the gems of the show, Jack Spahn is almost cartoonish as the happy-go-lucky Will Parker. Whether swinging a rope or swinging the girl he loves, the audience is sure to fall for this suave simpleton.

Bailee Mayne is cute-as-a-button as Will’s female intellectual equal, Ado Annie. As another gem of the show, Mayne exudes innocence as the love-starved pixie. Mayne and Spahn are magic together in the second act highlight, “All or Nothin’.”

Taking her LHS stage bow in style is Sam Dencher as the middle-aged philosopher Aunt Eller. Whether playfully scolding Will, comforting Laurey or leading the cast in the extremely complex auction scene, Dencher’s delightful expressions speak louder than words.

Also exiting stage left with his head held high is senior Dalton Watson who is brilliant as traveling Casanova, Ali Hakim. Watson cleverly shows Ali easily stringing along the gullible Ado, but in the end the flim-flam man gets his just desserts.

Attacking the musical’s most complex role head-on, James George as stern farmhand Jud Fry is the third gem of the show. George displays with intensity Jud’s struggle between his obsession with Laurey and his own inadequacies.

Corey Patterson gives a fine performance as Ado Annie’s over-protective father Andrew Carnes. Patterson combines with Dencher to lead the cast in a rousing start to Act II.

In a supporting role, Elizabeth Bennett combines a bubbly personality and a delightfully-irritating laugh to make Gertie memorable.

Deserving special mention is Courtney McPeek who owns the stage in an emotional performance as Dream Laurey in the trademark ballet by choreographer Jessica Berick. A combination of fluidity and innocence comes across as McPeek leads the cast in a dramatic conclusion to Act I. Berick lent her talents to several other numbers as well.

The rest of the cast has supporting roles that are essential in tying the plot together. They range from Laurey’s four chums to ranch owners to farmers trying not to get three-day bellyaches.

Whether it is the high-kicking boys (led by Spahn) in the energizing ‘Kansas City,’ the statement-making girls (led by Richardson) in the spunky ‘Many a New Day,’ or the whole cast banding together for the bursting title song, it is the ensemble that dictates the enthusiasm of the show. It is truly an on-stage family atmosphere as kids as young as second grade take part.

They are complemented by a talented Gray-led orchestra made up of adults and students.

The stage is colorful thanks to the outstanding set and the colorful Libby Spinning-organized costumes. Lynette Salazar and Sheri Spahn deserve kudos for compiling the numerous (and in some cases intricate) props.

So, bring the family along to this sing-a-long American classic musical.

And as the philosopher Aunt Eller promises, ‘This here’s a party.’