Oklahoma!

Published Tuesday 17 June 2008 at 10:50 by Pat Ashworth

What better choice of musical could there be for the stunning open air setting of Kilworth House Theatre? This is such a triumph for an outstanding venue in only its second year of operation.

The actors exploit to the full the grassy terrain surrounding the stage. They approach via fences for vaulting over and paths for trundling carts, and there’s a huge bonus on a fine afternoon like this one, when sunshine combines with Chris Ellis’ lighting to tinge the hay bales and warm the cornfields of the inventive set.

The exuberance of it all is quite infectious. The dancing seems to break out

spontaneously and the shrewd choice of Amy Bailey, a classically-trained dancer, to play Laurey, gives her duet with Curly (Steven Houghton) in the first act all the lyricism of a pas de deux.

Comedy is uppermost, though, and it’s Abi Newberry as Ado Annie Carnes, the girl who can’t say no, who steals the show. She has perfected a comic way of working her face and her body as though the movement is quite involuntary, and the ungainly dipping and bobbing that results is gloriously funny to watch.

Steve Elias as Ali Hakim, the pedlar, and Scott Cripps as Will Parker, Annie’s would-be beau, match her performance and are perfect foils for her. Big scenes such as the Box Social capture the period with authenticity and big company numbers such as The Farmer and the Cowman come over with a zest and colour that can’t fail to warm.