Oklahoma! Reviews

Marcia pinto from Buffalo, New York

OKLAHOMA

Absolutely horrible. Who picked this to show the Buffalo audience. We deserve better.

Elaine Raithel from Buffalo, New York

SO DISAPPOINTED

I have loved Oklahoma since I was a kid and I was really looking forward to seeing the show. I still can’t get over how upset and disappointed I am at what I saw on stage last night. Never have I left Shea’s feeling so disgusted. Not only was there no chemistry between any of the actors, there was no joy in any of the singing, if you can call it that. The actors were not cast because of their talent, the set was shoddy and cheap, and the costumes were plain and dull. The “black out” scenes made no sense and the close ups projected on the plywood didn’t belong in such a well loved musical. I never thought I’d have to read the reviews before attending a show, but maybe I’d better start. This was NOT my Oklahoma, and judging by the amount of people who left at intermission, I’m not the only one who felt this way.

Bonnie A from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WHAT A SHAME TO WREAK A CLASSIC

I know this production was going to be "edgy" but I really couldn't stand it. No fault of the actors and musicians. I go the theatre to be entertained and expect that from musical. Not the crap I saw last night. I read multiple reviews from different critiques this morning and some of them said this was the problem with people going to theatre and we should be willing to feel uncomfortable with updating classics to get to raw human emotions - i say BS. I want to pay money and enjoy a production.

from Buffalo, New York

AWFUL!!!

One star is one too many. I’ve never seen such a horrible excuse for a Broadway musical. Sound was mostly unintelligible except when it was blaring. There was a pause in the first act during which actors were called off the stage and theater lights turned on. We still don’t know whether it was part of the play because this adaptation of a great musical was just too bizarre for words!

from Buffalo, New York

OKLAHOMA

Very disappointing,not anything I was expecting

William B. from Buffalo, New York

WORST PRODUCTION EVER!

I have loved “Oklahoma!“ almost my entire life. This production certainly achieves what it set out to. Unfortunately, this is the worst production of anything that I have ever seen! None of us can understand why people supposedly love it so much. A full 25% of the audience left at intermission because the production is so dreadful. They were spared having to cover their ears like I had to at the beginning of the second act with the repulsive blaring of the electric guitar cacophony. I’m not saying that the cast and musicians aren’t talented. They are. But the concept is dark and minimalist. Picture a “table read” with no props and no set pieces. Just picnic tables and folding chairs. Costumes courtesy of Goodwill. Someone said it reminded them of a high school production but I disagreed as that is an insult to high schools everywhere. It is shocking that tickets to this cost just as much as a lavish production of a musical that has a full orchestra, set changes, beautiful costumes and over 30 cast members. It was dark, depressing, and contrived. I feel quite sorry for people who think they’re buying tickets to a classic musical and are subjected to this instead. I think that Rodgers and Hammerstein must be rolling over in their graves.

Kevin from Buffalo, New York

OKLAHOMA?

I attended Oklahoma! at Sheas on Friday night. I knew a few weeks beforehand that the production was not going to be a traditional version, keeping that in mind I was willing to give it a chance. That chance ended halfway through Act One, and after suffering through three scenes, it was about as fur as I could go, the musical arrangements were awful, the cast had no chemistry, the set, choreography, and lighting were all terrible. During the Many a New Day scene the show was halted and the cast left the stage due to a commotion in the balcony, I could not see what was happening, I could only hear someone screaming and shouting. I imagine that it was someone who was only vocalizing and acting out what most of the audience had only thought about the performance up to that point, I know that if I had seats in the balcony I might have considered jumping. During the delay I watched as many people walked out, in hindsight I should have joined them but thought it might get better. That thought ended during the Pore Jud is Daid scene where Curly was trying to convince Jud to hang himself, Curly convinced me at the first mention of the rope, it was all I could do not to run up on stage and end my misery. During Intermission most of the audience looked shell shocked, people walked like zombies, some silent, others shaking their heads,muttering in disbelief what they had just experienced, and many walking out. One poor girl threw up on the floor just in front of the powder room doors, I was surprised that she made it that far. I sat down for Act Two and could see a noticeable amount of empty seats, I estimate that at least 30% of the audience had not returned. Fast forward to the last scene, Oklahoma, which I liked much better when it was called Carrie. Curly and Laurey were standing together at the box social, in shock, with their faces and upper bodies covered in blood, reminiscent of a scene in the movie Carrie where Carrie and her date stood together covered in blood at a high school dance. While the scene in Carrie was spontaneously disturbing, in Oklahoma! it was conspicuously contrived, as was the entire production. I was hoping the scene would continue just like the movie with all the theatre doors slamming shut, locking everyone in to their ultimate fate, but at that point the show was over, as was my misery. I am sure most of the cast members are very talented, if given a part that fits them, they had to follow a terrible script that did not showcase their talents. Casting criteria seems to have leaned away from two important factors in a successful production, talent related to the part, and cast chemistry. I believe in inclusivity, but only if the person that is auditioning has the talent and chemistry that matches the part.

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