Sligo Drama Circle Celebrates 20th Birthday With Lavish Production of “Oklahoma”

There’s no business like show business – and there isn’t a musical production that can match Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” in illustrating that point. And that’s just one reason why Sligo Drama Circle, celebrating their 20th birthday this year, decided that “Oklahoma” would be their first venture into the full musical field. Another reason, of course, is that the widely acclaimed musical, with its strong character roles, lends itself to a drama company more than most musicals. To add spice to the occasion, “Oklahoma” marks the Drama Circle’s contribution to America’s bicentennial celebrations and the US in return is sending Mr. Murtha, First Secretary, United States Embassy, Dublin to Sligo for the opening performance at Fr. O’ Flanagan Hall, Summerhill College, on Sunday night next. While in Sligo, Mr Murtha will be accorded a civic reception by the Mayor, Cllr. J. Harrison.

Sligo Drama Circle has been presenting plays by authors as diverse as J. B. Keane and Archbald Mc Leish since 1956 but this is its first venture into the full musical field. However with singers who can act and actors who can sing, the group just couldn’t go wrong with what is considered to be the last of the old style and the first of the modern musicals. Everyone knows those most singable of songs. “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'”, “The Surrey With The Fringe on the Top”, “Kansas City”, “Many a New Day”, “People Will Say We’re in Love”, “All or Nothin'”, “Pore Jud is Daid”, and that wonderful comedy piece, “I Can’t Say No” as well, of course, as the title song.

Director Liam Mc Kinney, better known perhaps for his Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller productions, has also built up quite a reputation for his handling of musicals with his Mercy Convent spectaculars. For “Oklahoma” he has enlisted the help of Musical Directors Kathleen O’ Hara and Sheila Crowley and Choreographer Pat Verdon. Liam has also greatly enlarged the membership of the Drama Circle by tapping the pool of talent that “Tops of the Town” has brought forth in Sligo over the last few years to augment the regulars. Included in the cast are are such well-know Sligo actors/singers Joan Fitzpatrick, Tony Mc Niffe, Frances Regan (Monaghan), Cormac Sheridan, Martina Cullen, Robert Burnside, Catherine Clancy, Mick Kilcoyne, Mary Gantley, Frankie Branigan and Tenor James Mc Golderick, fresh from his success in the recent Swinford Singer of the Year Competition.

With colourful costumes, specially designed settings, a full orchestra, over sixty performers between principals, chorus and dancers, Richard Rogers’ music and Oscar Hammerstein’s book and lyrics, “Oklahoma” promises to be Sligo’s most spectacular theatrical event of the year in Sligo. Booking for the show is at the Yeats Building, Hyde Bridge, Sligo – telephone 2693 – daily from 11am to 1pm and again from 3pm to 5pm. Holders of season tickets can use their passes to attend “Oklahoma” but are reminded that they must bring their cards to the booking office as soon as possible to ensure the best possible seat on the night of their choice.

The Drama Circle is very grateful to the Yeats Society for providing the booking facilities as well as to the Ladies Club for assistance with catering and Summerhill College for the use of the hall and rehearsal facilities. Particular gratitude is expressed to GWI Ltd., Collooney, for so generously sponsoring the programme for the show. The show, which is presented by arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd., opens on Sunday night next and continues nightly until Sunday 31st October. Admission is 80p with a special night for students at 40p on Monday 25th October.

from The Sligo Champion, October 22nd, 1976