Oklahoma!
at Aliso Niguel

Reviewed on April 21, 2016

Katie Van Horn
Mission Viejo High School
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Aliso's Oklahoma! Is a charming tale

As the lights rise on the stage at Aliso Niguel High School, excitement overwhelms the stage as this classic story of love and comradery unfolds.

Playing the delightful southern belle, Laurey Williams, is Camryn Graves. With a charming smile and perfectly poised posture, Graves manifests the kind-hearted nature of Laurey. Her expressive facials however, have the ability to portray Laurey's stubbornness as she struggles with her obvious affection for her neighbor Curley. Graves is the epitome of elegance, especially during her pas de deux during the dream. She shows incredible strength and control as she kicks and leaps across the stage, presenting her excellent skills as a ballet dancer.

Laurey's stubborn lover is played by Danny Cristofaro. His wide legged stance and confident stage presence perfectly captures the extravagant character of Curley. Cristofaro brings out both the sweet and the suave side of his character through a sly smirk constantly present on his face. He shows the most versitality during the song "Poor Jud", however he switches from very solemn and dramatic expressions to slight chuckles as he observes Jud's intense bellow.

Judd, played by Michael Ouimet, is not your typical villain, thanks to the subtleties in Ouimet's acting. Judd Fry is usually portrayed as the perverse and much hated villain of Oklahoma, but Ouimet's slight character choices evokes pity and understanding. After talking to Curley in his home and singing "Poor Jud", we realize that all that Judd really needs is a true relationship, and Ouimet manages to portray all of these characteristics through slight stuttering, suggesting insecurity, and a brilliant look in his eyes as he imagines how much the town would miss him if he passed.

Will Parker (Jack Townsend) and Ado Annie (Olivia Robertson) bring lighthearted joy to the stage as they constantly argue about their complicated relationship. Despite their disagreements, Will always remains defensive over Annie, shown through Townsend's enlarged physicality.

Technical elements are also executed masterfully and add to the charm and believability of the show. Lighting, designed by Piper Hein does the job of setting the mood during the dream, displaying red lighting when Judd enters and a peaceful blue while she dances with Curley.

This inspiring performance of Oklahoma! Is executed with a talented and energetic cast along with a skilled technical crew.

Trevor Casillas
Mission Viejo High School
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Aliso Niguel's ‘Oklahoma' a trail blazer

Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic musical has charmed audiences since 1943, but Aliso Niguel refreshes the classic by focusing on a grittier side of the characters and the tense love that simmers between them.

Curly (Danny Cristofaro) stands with confidence, exuding a bow-legged, cowboy-swagger that both irritates and irrevocably attracts the girl he's sweet on, Laurey (Camryn Graves). She's a relatively rugged southern belle who keeps all the charm and grace of a lady but the strength of a pioneering woman. The love between the two starts budding from flirtatious teasing, but as it's heating up an intimidating obstacle, in the form of Jud Fry (Michael Ouimet), emerges.

Jud is a hog that wants to slobber all over Laurey. He's a heavy, sweaty, and gruff farmhand who repulses most people. Consequently, he's often in a "lonely room" with nothing but his fidgety anxiety and dirty pictures which represent what he can't have: a "womern" of his own.

The lighter conflict is between Will Parker (Jack Townsend) and Ali Hakim (Robin Valdez). The former is head over heels for Ado Annie, and she just can't say no to him! Unfortunately, she can't to the latter either--a "Persian" peddler who'd much rather hit the road than get hitched. Valdez shines through with comedic one liners, delivered in a unique Persian-ish/western twang. Townsend stands out as a cutely dumb feller who's slackjawed around Ado but isn't afraid to get tough when Ali talks pretty to her.

Technical designs are just as integral to a good performance. The lighting design (Piper Hein) illustrates hot and dry Oklahoma through yellow and orange washes. It also establishes moods and symbols, such as the blue wash for Curly and the red wash for Jud in the Dream sequence to represent their conflict of protagonist versus antagonist.

The makeup (Melanie Miller) further establishes the dusty and weathered look of Oklahoma, with special attention to dirt and stubble on the men's faces, making them older and more sun-beaten. The cast looks good, but they also move well thanks to Camryn Graves' choreography. There's a level of risk in her choices, which adds spectacle to the show--involving flips, lifts, and throws.

Aliso Niguel's "Oklahoma" does more than charm; its collaborative student artistry reminds us that love can be more than singing and dancing--it can also be tough choices and tougher consequences.

Michaela Shields
Mission Viejo High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

People will say great things about Aliso's "Oklahoma!"

"Oklahoma!" is the first Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical and is said to be the start of the golden age of musicals. "Oklahoma!" is set in the early 1900s and follows the story of Curly McLain and Laurey Williams as they learn to love one another. On the way, they face many trials, including the trial for the farmhand's murder.

In any other story, the farmhand would be a small or relatively insignificant role, but to this show, Jud is vital as he is the main antagonist. Played by Michael Ouimet, Jud Fry makes himself a realistic villain by showing his more human side with constant fidgeting, as if his actions are somewhat controlled by crippling social anxiety. Ouimet moves around the stage in a slightly creepy manner, accompanied by his large stature and gruff voice, making him a perfect fit for the older and menacing Jud Fry. Characterization of Jud let the audience see him as more than just a villain, which made his death more consequential for the characters and the audience.

Jud and Curly both pine over Laurey, but she makes her character more than a pawn for the both of them. Camryn Graves, despite Laurey's obvious feelings for Curly, adds the inner struggle of Laurey into the show. Graves portrays the indecisiveness of Laurey falling in love, with her coyness. Graves physicalizes Laurey's indecision with her proper gestures elegantly taking her away from any conversation with Curly in the beginning.

Lights are a major aspect in this show and the light crew seamlessly integrated them. Laurey's dream sequence fleshes out her inner turmoil with Jud and Curly, which the lights only emphasize. As Laurey dances through a happy life with Curly, the lights are all blue and bright, but Jud's entrance changes the entire mood of the stage. Jud enters and the stage turns red, the red gets progressively brighter as Laurey loses hope of Curly or anyone else saving her from Jud. Lights also play a key role when Curly proposes to Laurey. The lights change from a soft yellow to light pink as Curly proposes, because Laurey and Curly are finally open and happy with their love.

Between the tech crew and actors, it is easy to say that more than just "The Farmer and The Cowman" worked hard to produce Aliso Niguel's "Oklahoma!"