1/20/2012

By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

The old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a cliche, but Chad Nulik said it applies to the musical "Oklahoma!"

"It's a great musical that's stood the test of time, and you don't mess with a great musical," said Nulik, drama instructor at Salina Central High School.

For the past few years, Nulik, who is directing the classic Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein musical, has been introducing his students to more modern musicals such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Into the Woods" and "Urine-town." This year, he decided to go back 69 years and stage a musical almost everyone in this part of the country (and most of the world) is familiar with.

"Educational theater is all about not doing the same thing over and over," he said. "If you can go from doing 'Urinetown' to 'Oklahoma!' and not miss a beat, you're doing good."

"Oklahoma!" will be performed Thursday and Jan. 27-28 at the Salina Central High School auditorium.

The musical is set in the Oklahoma territory in 1906. It tells the story of brash cowhand Curly McLain and his romance with spunky farm girl Laurey Williams, a romance that is challenged by surly and dangerous farmhand Jud Fry.

"Oklahoma!" was groundbreaking in its day for using the show's songs to integrate the story and convey the characters' emotions as well as using ballet to reflect Laurey's struggle to choose between two men.

Classic theater songs

The musical's score is full of classic songs: "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'," "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "People Will Say We're in Love," "I Cain't Say No," "Kansas City," "The Farmer and the Cowman" and, of course, the rousing title song.

Ever since its Broadway debut, where it ran a then-unprecedented 2,212 performances, it has been a staple of school and community theater.

"It's just a nice fun show and a great learning experience for the kids," Nulik said.

The Salina Central production features choreography by Jordan Martens, costumes by Cynthia Geis, technical direction by Bill Weaver, vocal direction by Ryan Holmquist and orchestra direction by Andrew Book.

Don't play it cheesy

Playing Curly and Laurey is a change of pace for students Jackson Mattek and Zoe Rea, who said they are not used to being the romantic leads in shows.

"I'm always the funny sidekick guy or the villain," said Mattek, 17, a Salina Central junior. "This is a fun role. He's very assertive and thinks high of himself."

Mattek said playing such a classic role is harder than it seems.

"It's not a hard role to do, but you want to do it in a way that's not stereotypical," he said. "I don't want it to be cheesy."

For Rea, 17, a Salina Central senior, it was all about finding the right Laurey to play.

"I watched several different versions of the musical, and I like the ones where Laurey is sassier and tougher," she said. "She's different than all the other girls."

-- Reporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by email at gdemuth@salina.com.

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