I’m back in London and I just knew I had to go and see Daniel Fish’s version of Oklahoma! as I missed my chance on Broadway back in 2019. I’m a huge fan of how they re-orchestrated this score. It’s just so much better. The show amazed me, however I feel as though bringing Fish’s version to the West End did not hit home for British audience members. As Daniel Fish said, “every audience is different”, but I couldn’t help but notice the confusion a lot of Brits had about this experimental production of Oklahoma!
TRIGGER WARNING: Keep in mind this show has themes of violence and sexual assault. And parts of this show are performed in complete darkness for minutes at a time.
The first thing I noticed about this production was the set. The set was bright and almost entirely made of light oak wood. There was one long table in the middle and chairs that surrounded it. I liked how the characters were sprawled out in their chairs for the bulk of the show. These things were reminiscent of the heat and allowed the characters to act as if they were spending their day sitting out in the beating sun.
I also appreciated the contrast of the guns mounted on the wall in dark wood. An overwhelming amount of guns were hung, stretching out to the box seats as well, perhaps to foreshadow violence and death.
Then the tinsel above the stage added a pop of color, the fringe quite literally being on top. The set created a western atmosphere.
The set is phenomenal, but the production still relies heavily on the actors to create an atmosphere. Unlike the Broadway version, the actors did not actually make chili throughout the show. I think this would have added to the immersive experience, though it’s not so ideal in a post pandemic world. Instead actors could be seen crushing cans, drinking beer, just doing their own thing all the while a conflict was happening center stage. I loved this, as well as the audience interaction in the front row.
Going in, I was not familiar with a “typical” production of Oklahoma! (now that I’m writing this, I’ve done some research on the original Oklahoma!). In spite of that, I did not realize how vital a character Jud was. I found it interesting that he is the only person who does not leave the stage at all until the end of Act 1.
I fell in love with the way Arthur Boan portrayed Jud. He had just the right amount of depression, desperation, and intensity. (Boan understudied Jud, but I also got a chance to see Patrick Vaill the second time I went, who was great as well!)
I found Sam Palladio’s portrayal of Curly to be a bit sinister and cocky. Of course, Palladio’s portrayal is not incorrect, but from what I’ve seen, Damon Dunno (who originated Curly in Fish’s production) portrays Curly as more charming and pure. I think making Curly out to be a charismatic guy adds a certain shock value when everyone sides with Curly at the trial. And I think it makes his downfall more dramatic because nobody wants a beloved character to fail.
I’ve always thought Curly was meant to be a favorite of the town, but deep down he has a dark secret. Though different, I think both Dunno and Palladio are able to pull off this vibe successfully through their portrayals. There’s something so beautiful about having different takes on the same role. Similarly, there’s something so important about presenting a new perspective on an old show. Fish has given a new life to the musical.
The feelings in this show are so palpable. I became anxious each time the room went pitch black. I have never felt such strong feelings of disgust in watching a musical than I have with Fish’s Oklahoma!
Moving on to the music, I was impressed by the orchestra and cast. Though few in number, they worked together and filled the theatre with ease. Like I said before, I absolutely love the new arrangements of the music. I enjoy the rock edge that was added. The score now appeals to a new generation.
A huge part of Fish’s Oklahoma is highlighting the flaws within American history. This is why misogyny is a huge theme in this production. Almost all the men in this show treat women poorly. Will cheats on Ado Annie. Ali uses women, never taking into account their feelings. Jud is a sexual assaulter. So is Curly? And of course, Curly makes several poor choices that hurts the woman he supposedly loves.
Arguably, another theme that is brought to light by this production is the division of politics in the United States. Jud and Curly are starcrossed when it comes to getting along. “The farmer and the cowman should be friends.” Jud is a farmer, while Curly is a cowhand. They are divided based on profession. Historically speaking there was big competition between these two professions, so it’s not a stretch that this could be used as a metaphor for the political divide. And it becomes even clearer when the two sing “Pore Jud is Daid''. Curly uses the song as a way to threaten Jud. Will Parker is used as the cameraman, filming what is going on in real time. In this scene, the live projections are the only thing that lights up the room. We watch as a single tear falls from Jud’s cheek. To me, this was a physical manifestation of the party divide and how the media shapes and twists it.
And most prominently, I must discuss the themes of systemic racism. Oklahoma! has always been filled with metaphors for discrimination and racism. The lyrics “territory folks should stick together, territory folks should all be pals” and “he come out west and built a lot of fences…” is symbolic of ostracizing people of color. Fish is able to underscore these themes of racism through his direction. One example of this is in Act 2 which opens with a black dancer in a sparkly t-shirt that says “dream baby, dream”. In my opinion, this was a metaphor for the American dream that people of color struggle to achieve. When the boots began to fall from the ceiling, I thought this was a clear metaphor for the countless deaths of innocent people of color. And when the dancer began to mimic movements of a horse, I took this to represent not only the dehumanization of POC, but how Europeans rode in on their horses and stole Native land. During this scene I noticed audience members who had puzzled looks on their faces, I heard someone say “what the fuck is happening”. I heard laughter. To me, this is what many British audience members missed.
There’s no doubt that the U.K. is affected by systemic racism. It’s unavoidable in a country that was founded by white people. But the topic of systemic racism seems to be more prevalent in the United States. Possibly because the U.K. abolished slavery in 1806, while the U.S. only technically made slavery illegal much later, in 1863. Not to give you a history lesson, but I only say “technically” because 1863 was only when Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved people weren’t actually seen as free until 1866. And still, we cannot forget the corrupt prison system that still persists in America today.
I guess part of the reason a lot of the British audience couldn’t reckon with Fish’s Oklahoma! is because of the difference in their culture and history compared to the U.S. These days, the conversation on racism just cannot be avoided in the US. Unlike the U.K., we’ve got a lot less history. We can go back to an exact point in time and say “this is where it all began”. As soon as The Declaration of Independence was signed the founding fathers agreed that slavery was okay. They made the decision to allow racism to plague a new nation.
And that’s not to say everyone in the U.S. acknowledges their history, or their racism for that matter. That being said, simply being from the U.S. isn’t the key to unlocking or appreciating the underlying messages of Fish’s Oklahoma! either.
Correspondingly, I saw the trial scene as a metaphor for America’s corrupt government, as oftentimes people who deserve to be punished get away with their heinous crimes. The “trial” in the show was hardly even a trial. Quickly, Curly decides to plead self-defense when his actions were completely unnecessary and unfair. We see this kind of thing go down far too often in America, think of all the police brutality cases.
As I watched the end of the show, I sat there frozen in my seat. I could not believe people were clapping along to the beat of the final song and smiling. The music is upbeat, while the situation that just went down is beyond horrific. Maybe some people weren’t quite sure how to react.
I think to fully take in this piece, one needs to understand the United States’ part in the slave trade, the history of segregation that has led to current day discrimination and most importantly the history with the Trail of Tears (as Oklahoma was the state where Indigenous people were forced into).
It takes guts to put on a nuanced piece of theatre and completely revitalize it. I’m eternally grateful for Fish and everyone who has worked on Oklahoma! for creating a piece of theatre that I’m now completely infatuated with. Good theatre leaves one thinking. Wondering. Reflecting. Whether you enjoyed this production or not, you must admit it does just that.
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