Oklahoma Takes the Stage

In an effort to raise awareness and attendance for Centralia High School theater, director Shane Rivers has chosen shows he thinks have a wide appeal and a good story to tell.

“Oklahoma,” which opens tonight at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus, has both of those elements, Rivers said.

“I love ‘Oklahoma,’” Rivers said. “I think it’s a show that really is about the excitement of new beginnings and the joy we get from starting new things and I think it’s really great for high school students because they are in that part of their life.”

A 28-member high school cast will present the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Thursday through Sunday on the college stage. Rivers explained that change of venue is partly logistical: the high school’s theater only seats about 250 and typically the high school’s musicals draw more than 300 per show; and the show itself has a number of large musical scenes that necessitate a larger stage. But the setting is also an example of the educational aspect that goes into every show.

“I love going over there,” Rivers said of Corbet. “It gives the students a glance at what a theater should be like or what a theater can be like. I love to see the looks in their eyes the first time they walk out on that stage.”

Centralia High School’s production of “Oklahoma” will tell the well-loved tale of farmers and cowboys trying to cohabitate in the fledgling Oklahoma state in 1906.

Local ranch hand Curly (played by Joe Maxwell, 17) comes to work for Aunt Eller (played by Rachel Frichette, 15) and her niece Laurey (played by Morgan Fast, 18). Though Curly and Laurey are immediately smitten with each other, Laurey doubts a hired hand’s financial ability to court her. She turns him down for a date to the box social and ends up going instead with the moody Jud Fry (played by Duncan Eastman) because she is too scared to say no when he asks her. Eastman, who previously played Romeo in the fall production of “Romeo and Juliet” said being cast as the temperamental and unstable Jud was something that stretched him as an actor. He said the character is often portrayed as the bad guy but he’s really a very complex character.

“He’s been there two years and in his mind it’s all been leading up to him asking Laurey out and then in pops Curly,” Eastman said. “When you actually think about it, yes he’s crazy, but he really thinks he’s doing the right thing.”

While Curly and Jud fight for the affection of Laurey, her friend Ado Annie (played by Mackenzie Neely, 18) is in her own love triangle with Will Parker (played by Riley Fast) and Persian peddler Ali Hakim (played by Josh Towle). Neely, who previously performed in “The Sound of Music” as Mother Abbess, said the character of Ado Annie really appealed to her, as well, because it was so different from anything she had done on stage before.

“It’s really just helped me grow as an actress because I’m getting to do things I’ve never done before,” Neely said. “You’re kind of the comic relief for the story so you have to take your character and go as far as you can go with it.”

Rivers said this year’s musical cast is quite experienced and talented, with the bulk of them being juniors and seniors and many having appeared in several productions. And many, like Eastman and Neely, were cast in roles that were meant to give them a new perspective and an experience that would stretch their abilities. Fast said she feels every student has really learned their roles well and is prepared to give an excellent performance.

“Not one of these characters is boring,” she said.

On top of an engaging story and lively story is the classic musical score that Rodgers and Hammerstein shows are known for.

“I think they will enjoy the music,” Frichette said. “A lot of it is really upbeat and exciting.”