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Transcribed and presented by Greville Watson, 2018
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Rushden Operatic Society
'OKLAHOMA' - 1983
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Rushden Amateur Operatic Society
Presents
OKLAHOMA!
(By arrangement with Chappell Music Ltd)
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Based on the Play
"Green Grow the Lilacs"
by Lynn Riggs
Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Book and
Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II |
Direction Reproduced
by GRAHAM WARD
Musical Director
PAULINE LONGLAND
Choreography
Reproduced by
MELANIE GARNER |
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| THE RITZ, RUSHDEN |
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April 24th, 25th, 26th,
May 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
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| Nightly 7.30 pm |
Saturday Matinee
April 29th 2.30 pm |
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The Orchestra
Under the direction of Pauline Longland |
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Pauline Longland
our
Musical Director
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Whole Show
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Trumpet
Trombone
Flute
Piano
Clarinet
Bass
Percussion |
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D. Gomm
T. Preston
A. James
M. Neal
N. Crozier
E. Allen
R. Ruff |
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1st week only
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| Flute |
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J. Mack |
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2nd week only
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| Violin |
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A. Tomalin |
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Musical Numbers
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ACT ONE
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"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'"
"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'"
"The Surrey with the Fringe on the Top"
"Kansas City"
"I Cain't Say No!"
"Many A New Day"
"It's A Scandel! It's Outrage"
"People Will Say We're In Love"
"Pore Jud Is Daid"
"Lonely Room"
Dream Sequence -
"Out Of My Dreams"
Dream Ballet |
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Curly
Laurey
Curly, Aunt Eller, Laurey
Will Parker
Ado Annie
Laurey, Girls & Dancers
Ali Hakim & Chorus
Curly, Laurey & Aunt Eller
Curly & Jud
Jud
Sylvie, Kate, Ellen, Girls & Laurey |
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ACT TWO
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"The Farmer & The Cowman"
"All Er Nothin'"
"People Will Say We're In Love"
"Oklahoma"
Finale
Reprise "Oklahoma" |
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Carnes, Chorus, Aunt Eller, Will,
Curly, Cord Elam, Ike
Will Parker, Ado Annie
Curly, Laurey
Aunt Eller, Ike, Laurey, Curly,
Chorus, Cord Elam, Carnes
Entire Company
Entire Company |
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THE CAST
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AUNT ELLER
CURLY
LAUREY
IKE SKIDMORE
SLIM
WILL PARKER
JUD FRY
ADO ANNIE CARNES
ALI HAKIM
GERTIE CUMMINGS
ELLEN
KATE
SYLVIE
ANDREW CARNES
CORD ELAM |
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Pauline Wildman
Paul Longland
Julie Wilbur
Keith Vaughan
David Coleman
Ian Manning
Keith Green
Sue Ebsworth
Philip Hanzlik
Pam Trainor
Ursula Hanzlik
Muriel Wallis
Jeanette King
John Stringer
Mike Neville |
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| In the Ballet |
LAUREY
CURLY
JUD |
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Kathryn Green
John Stevens
Keith Green |
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| GIRLS |
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Melanie Allen
Mary Boyfield
Pam Bird
Margaret Coleman
Josephine Green & Dancer
Ursula Hanzlik
Jeanette King & Dancer
Gill Lewis
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Carol Maddams
Angela Mander
Amanda Mitchell
Kate Rawlins
Tracy Rogers
Joan Vaughan
Muriel Wallis
Hazel Wright |
| FARMERS - COWMEN - DANCERS |
Robin Allen & Dancer
Steve Ball & Dancer
Tim Ball & Dancer
Andrew Billington & Dancer
Peter Clarke
David Coleman & Dancer |
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Gareth Evans
Bob Martin & Dancer
Doug Pateman & Dancer
Don Sanders
John Stevens & Dancer
Mick Tye |
| DANCERS |
Sally Baish
Carol Gray
Kathryn Green
Margaret Hunter |
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Sally Jones
Gill O'Brien
Kaye Rawlins
Wendy Stott |
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| The Story of Oklahoma |
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Our story opens with Curly, a young carefree cowboy, pretending not to be interested in Aunt Eller’s niece Laurey, who herself has an eye on this particular young gentleman. However Curly resists his obvious love for Laurey by taking up with Gertie Cummings a friend of Laurey.
At the same time Jud Fry who is a sinister type of person with no real attraction to women dreams of Laurey and tries in vain to show affection, but sadly I a very repulsive and objectionable manner.
Laurey’s close friend Ado Annie is promised to Will Parker who returns from Kansas City with a 50 dollar prize won in a steer roping contest. (A necessary sum required before Will can ask for Annie’s hand in marriage.) However the scatter brain Annie cannot resist the advances of Ali Hakim a Persian Peddler of doubtful origin.
The build up to the Auction of Lunch Boxes at the Annual Picnic reveals Curly’s interest in Laurey by selling his saddle, gun, and horse, to raise money to outbid Jud Fry to ensure buying Laurey’s picnic hamper. Jud feels very bitter having staked two years’ savings in an endeavour to impress Laurey. Later Jud approaches Laurey when on her own she become frightened and tells him to leave. Shortly thereafter Curly appears and Laurey runs straight into his arms upon which Curly takes this as the ideal opportunity of proposing marriage and promises to settle down to become a farmer.
Ali Hakim after a very near miss to marriage takes his leave which enables romance to blossom also for Will and Annie.
The wedding of Curly and Laurey has everyone dressed up for the happy event which turns into a nightmare come true when Jud appears and fights with Curly which ends with Jud dead. Curly of course is completely vindicated as Jud fell on his own knife. The Honeymoon couple eventually drive away in their Surrey with the fringe on top, to start a new life together in “Oklahoma”.
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Scenes
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ACT ONE
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Scene I
Scene II
Scene III |
The Front of Laurey's Farm House
The Smoke House
A Grove on Laurey's Farm
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ACT TWO
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Scene I
Scene II
Scene III |
The Skidmore Ranch
Skidmore's Kitchen Porch
The Back of Laurey's Farm House
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THE TIME
THE PLACE |
Just after the turn of the Century.
Indian territory - (now Oklahoma).
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| Chairman's Message |
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May I on behalf of the R.A.O.S. Committee extend a very warm welcome to our audience for this performance. I trust that with your continued support we can look forward to a successful outcome to enable our Society to keep alive, stage shows in Rushden for many years to come.
This year Rodgers & Hammerstein provide us with material for enjoyment including such popular musical numbers as ‘The Surrey with the Fringe on Top’, ‘People will say we’re in Love’, ‘Farmer and the Cowman’ plus many other popular songs and of course a lively voicing of ‘Oklahoma’.
Mike Neville
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| President's Message |
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Welcome back! After 36 productions – 35 at the Ritz, 1 in Hall Park (Merry England 1953 Festival of Britain) – rising costs forced the society to seek a less expensive venue and a reduction of production costs. Thus 1979 saw a move to the Boys’ school. Expenses were reduced but not I hasten to add the standard of performance, the up and coming younger members were not tolerating any lowering of standards. By their vigour and enthusiasm they have ensured a sound future for the society, indeed the social events and the much appreciated annual “Songs from the Shows” have ensured the financial security to stage “Oklahoma” at the Ritz. Of course you, the general public, by your support of the society’s productions and events have played your part in this return. As president and on behalf of the society I thank you most sincerely and ask for your continued support so that live entertainment of the highest standard will be presented in Rushden.
This 1983 production is notable in one other respect – for the first time one of our own members is in charge of production. Knowing Graham Ward’s ability and great experience coupled with the talent of his team you will enjoy a marvellous show.
Bert Catlin
President
P.S. Just think – after 5 years – padded seats – you lucky people!
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| Programme Sellers |
Arrangements by Glenis Haynes.
Grace Berrill, Margaret Clarke, Kate Mitchell, Julie Nash, Elsie Pateman, Sarah Pott, Mandy Rogers. |
| Stewards |
Auditorium Manager - Cliff Jeffries
Harold Binder, Alan Binder, Peter Carpenter, John Jones, Gerry Myers, Phil Smith, Mike Walker. |
| Raffle Ticket Sellers |
Arrangements by Jean Wilbur
Margaret Bland, Debbie Longland, Mary Quartermain, Pamela Stock, Edna Ward. |
| Box Office |
| Robin Allen, Gill Allen, Bert Catlin, Barbara Swaby, Mike Swaby. |
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| Our Producer |
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It was delightful news to us last September, when Graham agreed to produce ‘Oklahoma’, and not audition for one of the major roles.
He has been with the Amateur Theatre for over 25 years – 19 of them with Rushden Society.
Graham’s first appearance on the stage was in 1956 in Wellingborough Operatic’s ‘Call me Madam’. He has also appeared with Kettering Theatrical Society and 10 of the Rushden RATS Pantomimes. In fact a total of about 70 shows.
Dancing soon became Graham’s high interest – pair dancing in the early shows, then tap, which led to taking on important roles as “Curly” in the Ballet sequence of ‘Oklahoma’.
Therefore this show is no stranger to him.
It has been marvellous having Graham with us all through the singing rehearsals and knowing we could consult him at any time.
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| Stage Staff |
Stage Manager - Len Gomm
Wardrobe - Mistress: Ena Carpenter
Gill Allen, Phillis Bryant, Chris Carter, Tina Curson, Sandy East, Connie Holt, Lisa Pettit, Ann Trietline, Rene Welsford
Stage Crew
Len Berrill, John Catlin, Tony Dale, Jerry Groom, Justin Joyce, Neil King, David Pateman, Gordon Pateman, Chris Ruff, Ken Smith, Chris Thorburn
Property Masters
Les King. Assisted by Pat Catlin and Miriam Joyce
Electricians & Lighting
Trevor Bailey, Simon Baker, Chris Catlin, Glyn Davies, Arthur Holloman, Roger Norman, David Stott
Call Boy - Clair O'Brien
Prompt - Peggy Coles
Tab Girl - Susan Smith
Make Up Artist - Clive Durrant.
Costumes - Hills of Hinckley
Scenery - James Fredericks, Weston-Super-Mare |
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| Acknowledgements |
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The Committee and members of the Society wish to offer their very sincere thanks to the following whose assistance and co-operation have made this production possible.
The President and Vice-Presidents for their continued support.
The Hamlyn Group for meetings and Rehearsal facilities.
The Queen Victoria Hotel, Hensman Hall & Windmill Club for Rehearsal facilities.
The Headmaster of Alfred Street School and the Caretakers.
Peter Dawes Printers, Kettering, for their great assistance in producing this programme.
The Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph to Doug Millhouse for publicity photographs.
All those who have allowed us to display advertising material.
The Traders who have taken advertising space or donated pages in this programme.
Anglia and Gateway Building Societies, Woodfine & Co for publicity displays.
Harry and Connie Holt of Rushden for the use of their Farm for Publicity photographs.
The Stewards, Programme and Raffle ticket sellers.
Box Office Assistants.
Wilsons Estate Agents for assistance in ticket sales.
The Nursing Sisters and St. John Ambulance for attendance at the Theatre.
All parties supporting us from various organisations.
R.A.T.S. for use of scenery workshop.
Whitworth Holdings for Scenery transport.
L. W. Whitehead, Irchester, David Smith, Wymington & James Jones for loan of properties.
Ritz, Rushden Management and Staff.
To all who have assisted the Society in presenting “Oklahoma” whether or not mentioned in this programme, we say a special “THANK YOU”.
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