SHS Drama Department performs Oklahoma one last time tonight

SHELLEY:  Shelley High School Drama Department will do the musical’s final performance, Oklahoma, tonight at 7 PM at the Little Theater in Shelley High School.

Last night, my wife and I saw the musical Oklahoma, performed by the drama department at the high school. It was well-produced and very entertaining.

The main characters in the musical are Blake Maybey, who plays the handsome Curly McLean, Maylee Murdoch, who plays the darling Laurey Williams; and Anthony Hackman, who plays the surly Jud Fry. All three of them played their roles very convincingly. The musical began with Maybey singing the old classic, “Oh, what a beautiful mornin.” His romantic swooning of Murdoch followed, where they sang the old classic, “The Surry with the Fringe.”

Hackman did an excellent job with his character being the antagonist in the production. It was interesting to see his jovial self when he was out of character at the end of the musical.

McKinzie Burnett, who played the arduous, but endearing Aunt Eller, did an excellent job in her role. Although her sound mike was sometimes somewhat muted, she played her role convincingly.

Kohlton Lund played the adolescent character Will Parker. He did an excellent job at singing “Kansas City.” But Lund was at his best when singing with his counterpart Ado Annie Carnes, played by Anastasia Taylor, in “All Ur Nuthin Ballad.”

Taylor did an excellent job playing the frisky, fickle girl who cannot decide who she is in love with between Lund or Carson Bodrero, who played the merchant peddling Ali Hakim. Bodrero was so funny on stage and played his character so well that he brought levity to the heavy subject matter of Oklahoma.

The entire ensemble cast was remarkable and acted, danced, and sang their way into the audience’s hearts, making this Oklahoma musical a memorable one. So if you have not seen it, I recommend you spend a wonderful evening at the little theater at the high school tonight.