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Oklahoma: Calhoun Player's First Production, April 1980
"Well, I'll be side-gaited!"
That's what farmer Ike Skidmore says in a scene from "Oklahoma"; he can't believe his eyes at what WIll Parker brings from Kansas City.
A lot of folks probably won't believe their eyes either when they see the musical "Oklahoma" that the Calhoun Players have produced for their first performance.
The colorful musical will be be presented Aril 17-20 on the rebuilt stage of the old Cameron High School Auditorium beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon as a part of the Calhoun County Purple Martin Festival.
You'll be as "side-gaited" as Ike when you start laughing at the antics of some of the characters in Rodgers and Hammerstein's rollicking musical about farmers and cowboys in the territory of Oklahoma, just about the turn of the century.
Director Jim Alford chose two casts, with two interpretations of the play, to include as many people as possible for the group's first venture; so many with talent turned out for tryouts, he said that he decided to double-cast. So, a cast "B" will perfrom on Thursday and Saturday, and a cast "A" on Friday and Sunday.
The "B" cast includes Becky Starness as the feisty, hearty character, Aunt Eller, and Debbie Haigler as her shy neice, Laurie. Johnny Roland playes the swaggering cowpoke, Curly, who wants to marry Laurie. Also in the "B" cast, Richard Thornton and Debbie Roland play the parts of WIll Parker and Ado Annie Carnes, sweethearts who spend more time comically fighting over Annie's wandering eye than almost anything else.
The mean ornery Judd Frye in cast "B" is Bill Wise; and the insufferable giggling gadabout, Gertie Cummins, is played by Gina Early.
Xennie Weeks is the lecherous peddler in both casts, a would-be Persian romancer by the name of Ali Hakim. Monty Blanton is Ado Annie's pa, Andrew Carnes, in both casts, and he keeps his gun polished to keep his weak-willed daughter from tarnishing his honor.
In cast "A", Fran Hooper is Aunt Eller; Maggie Dantzler as Laurie plays hard to get to Tommy Taylor's Curly. David and Mary Nichols play the simple but determined Will Parker and the flirtacious but equally simple Ado Annie. Bob Hooper plays the villian Judd Frye.
Carolyn Thompson is the accompianist for cast B and Betty Lou Shirer is the accompianist for cast A. And Arthur Allen and Bill Tolleson add a nice touch as both play their violin for the musical.
In the chorus and playing minor roles are Becky Blanton, Talley Culclasure Jr., Linda Wylie, Margaret and Buddy Thornton, Mary Jo Springs, Gwen Huffman, Marthanna Banks, Gary Porth, Julia Helen Garris and Nancy Alford. Linda Whetstone performs the dream ballet.
Although it is the first performance of the group, it is well-rehearsed and exciting, and should surprise a lot of friends and neighbors in the area, said director Alford.
If you like something with both comedy and drama, both music and dance, something with rowdy scenes as well as tender love songs, then you'll enjoy "Oklahoma"
BY T&D WRITER MARY NICHOLS
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