This is the golden jubilee year of Walmsley Church AODS and the event is being marked by a first class production of “Oklahoma”.
Some good things have been known to come out of the society in the past, but few would equal the enthusiasm and polish of this one, which is well paced, well sung and well directed – by Audrey Raistrick. It is not often in amateur companies one meets with such effective cohesion as this production displays – no sagging, no lack of impact, no musical hesitancy.
“Oklahoma” is an apt choice for a celebration since, by its very existence, it marks a turning point. The show made its first appearance at the end of a very drab war and at the end of an era which demanded the country house party, a few tennis rackets, French windows and a lot of tired comedy as necessary substitutes for wit. “Oklahoma” demonstrated an entirely new approach with smash hit number after smash hit number, conjured by Rodgers and Hammerstein out of a new vitality which was sweeping the musical world.
And it is still there as is demonstrated by the Walmsley production. Excellent performances come from Mike Taylor as Curly, Fiona Steel as Laurey, Valerie Walmsley as Aunt Eller, Maurice Windsor as Jud Fry, and Irene Bowers as Ado Annie, and Ron Finney, as Ali Hakim.
