Oklahoma – The Year’s Most Spectacular Theatrical Event

Sligo Drama Circle is twenty years old this year. The United States of America is just ten times that age, celebrating its 200th birthday in 1976. To mark both anniversaries Sligo’s resident Theatre Company has selected Richard Rogers’ and Oscar Hammerstein’s classic musical “Oklahoma 9by arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd.) The US in return is marking the occasion by sending Mr. Murtha, First Secretary, United States Embassy, Dublin to Sligo for the Opening night in Fr. O’ Flanagan Hall, Summerhill College on Saturday 24th October and for whom the Mayor, Cllr. J. Harrison has arranged a Civic Reception. The musical continues nightly at 8.30pm to Sunday, 31st October. Admission is 80p with a special night for students at 40p on Monday, 25th October.

Since 1956, Sligo Drama Circle has been presenting plays by authors as diverse as J. B. Keane and Archbald Mc Leish but this is its first venture into the full musical field. Oklahoma, with its strong character roles lends itself to a drama company more than most musicals and 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 Millar 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. 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 1976.

from The Sligo Champion, October 15th, 1976