Well, that’s me as Jud Fry in Regina Lyric Light Opera’s production of Oklahoma!, which hits the boards at the University Theatre, Riddell Centre, University of Regina this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances Thursday at 7:30, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Even though I’ve done one or two previous musicals (this is, I calculated today, the 37th show I’ve done with Lyric alone), I’ve never been in Oklahoma! before. Much as I’d love to play Curly, I’m afeared (sorry, the accent tends to rub off on me, ‘specially since I lived in Texas a couple of blue moons ago) that I’m more of a character actor than a leading man, and besides, much as it pains me to admit it, I’m too old.
But Jud is interesting to play, especially the way we’re playing him, which is much more ambiguous than he is sometimes portrayed. Is he really a potential killer, or just a lonely, socially awkward man with a nasty temper pushed over the edge by the evil and manipulative Curly McLain? (See, when you’re playing a character role, you always figure the show is really all about you, and the leading man and his ilk are mere bit players in your drama.) Hey, and I get to fire a gun on stage. That’s always fun.
Jud’s song, “Lonely Room,” is a wonderful song and a lot of fun to sing. Creepy, but effective, and it really suits my voice.
I can say without reservation that the show is terrific. Since I’ve got long stretches of the first act when I’m not on stage, I’ve been able to watch dress rehearsals from the theatre. Or set is simple but effective–hay bales, a bit of fence, some wheat, a big blue sky–and the principle actors are uniformly strong. Our “orchestra” is a tight little bluegrass quartet–two guitarists, a banjo/fiddle player, and a bass player. It really makes the music sound fresh and interesting and new, like you’ve never heard it before.
If you’re in the Regina area, come see us! Tickets are $20, and you can buy them at Bach & Beyond in the Golden Mile Centre, online via PayPal at http://www.reginalyric.com(although online sales cut off well before curtain) or at the door. Students can get in at half price at the door only on Wednesday night.
Hope to see you there!
