Oklahoma! in the West End | Opening night with Arthur Darvill, Anoushka Lucas and more

Last night saw the opening of WhatsOnStage Award-winning Oklahoma! - and we were there to chat to the cast.
Premiering on Broadway in 1943, the musical is written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, with the book by Hammerstein and the lyrics by both Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is set in the Oklahoma Territory in the early 1900s and tells the story of a farm girl named Laurey and her relationships with two men, Curly, a cowboy, and Jud, a farmhand. This new production adds a contemporary spin to proceedings.
The musical features several well-known songs, including "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," and "People Will Say We're in Love."
Leading the cast are Arthur Darvill (Curly McLain), Anoushka Lucas (Laurey Williams), Patrick Vaill (Jud Fry), Raphael Bushay (as Mike), James Patrick Davis (as Will Parker), Stavros Demetraki (as Ali Hakim), Greg Hicks (as Andrew Carnes), Rebekah Hinds (as Gertie Cummings), Marie-Astrid Mence (as Lead Dancer), Phillip Olagoke (as Cord Elam), Georgina Onuorah (as Ado Annie) and Liza Sadovy (as Aunt Eller).
Andrew Berlin, Arthur Boan, Shani Cantor, Anna-Maria de Freitas, George Maddison, Brianna Ogunbawo, Finlay Paul and Helen K Wint complete the company.
The show has orchestrations, arrangements and co-music supervision by Daniel Kluger, while the creative team also includes choreographer John Heginbotham, scenic designers Lael Jellinek and Grace Laubacher, costume designer Terese Wadden, lighting designer Scott Zielinski, sound designer Drew Levy and projection designer and WhatsOnStage Award winner Joshua Thorson. Co-music supervision and additional vocal arrangements are by Nathan Koci.
Oklahoma! continues at Wyndham's Theatre through to 2 September 2023, with tickets on sale below.

[@sonofpears4691]

Just saw this and I loved it plus as a massive dr who fan I absolutely loved being able to see Arthur Darville live and I had to stage door him. Patrick Vail was also exceptional and brought a lot of emotional depth to his character

[@syujin0723]

Just saw it it was so artistic incredible adoption truly inspiring

[@oldbobg]

I must admit that this show is not like the past. The music is still from the "old days" only its obvious the arrangements are different. This is for today's younger generations. I am 74 and have always loved the soundtrack from the movie (which came from the Broadway versions). I understand the changes for today. The majority was just fine. The sexual targeting of the pre-show ads threw me a bit; however, I understand the today's sexual inclusion which back in those "old days" was intimated in the show. The ending is entirely different. Jud falls on his knife after scuffeling with Curly, not murdered like today's show. Yes it was different to me, enjoyed it as well.

[@janette3196]

Hated it sorry not for me disappointing actually

[@janette3196]

I tell you in one word it was crap wish I never went did nothing for me sorry

[@janette3196]

It was out of concept from the Roger and Hammerstein musical and it should be a love story not sex related