is anyone noticing how BRITISH the Hugh Jackman OKLAHOMA is?

[theaterbabe]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:26pm

it's very interesting: they're playing it like a straight play.... rather than a comedy. none of the punchlines are hitting. those dry british folk.

(hugh jackman's voice is amazing!)

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:34pm

Oklahoma is a comedy? Huh?

[theaterbabe]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:35pm

you bet your surrey it is.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:37pm

is anyone noticing how Hugh looks in chaps?????????//

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:40pm

Anyone think HUGH can wear a bag and he would still be hottie mchot!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:48pm

**excuse me while I swoon...............................

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 7:52pm

I must say I'm enjoying Hugh's performance more than I did Patrick Wilson's.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 8:04pm

Actually, I think the audience probably is laughing, but they only want the audience to be included for applause. Is it just me, or are they lip synching to the cast album?

[theaterbabe]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 8:06pm

or at least post-video voiceover work definitely.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 8:12pm

did anyone notice the not so subtle shots of Hugh's Jackaman at the beginning??? Over and over they had his crotch RIGHT in close up........... not that I mind, but what was the point?

[theaterbabe]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 8:15pm

well isn't the whole musical a whose-got-the-bigger-package-Curley?-or-Judd?-competition?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 8:19pm

tur true... well we know in THIS version Hugh is the winner.. on Broadway though.. not too sure

Posted: 11/22/03 at 9:58pm

Trevor Nunn isn't known for his comedic directorial sense, in my opinion.

He brutalized MY FAIR LADY. Please pray it never makes it here. It was dreary with unattractive performers and terrible choreography.

Bulldog.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 11:13pm

I personally think the audience was added in with technology. When they showed the behind the scenes footage, the stage was like a studio. The audience was a recording...I think.

[MagicRoy]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 11:20pm

Since when are the British not funny? Just to let you know, British comedic actors tend to be much better than American ones. This is a very cultural thing. I believe that comedic "instinct" (timing, knowing when to milk, timing, knowing what's funny, and timing) are heavily something to do with culture. British people are brought up with humor that requires talent and timing. As are other "peoples." Let's face it....Most run-of-the-mill Americans just don't have Comedic Instinct. It's what drowns a lot of shows.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 11:25pm

Roy, I don't believe that is what she was saying...

[MagicRoy]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 11:29pm

is anyone noticing how BRITISH the Hugh Jackman OKLAHOMA is?

none of the punchlines are hitting. those dry british folk.

-----------

I thought she was implying that British can't hit a punchline... Oh well, maybe not.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 11/22/03 at 11:59pm

"I personally think the audience was added in with technology. When they showed the behind the scenes footage, the stage was like a studio. The audience was a recording...I think."

Yep.

It was recorded on a soundstage. So it's not that the audience isn't laughing; there IS NO AUDIENCE!

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 12:13am

What is up with the audience shots...they're completely ruining this for me. Not that Nun's production is all that great anyway. I wish that for once I good see a great production of this seminal American musical.

[MagicRoy]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 12:28am

I think that overall this is a good production. The Broadway revival was very good...finally got some depth in a musical that is usually presented very superficially. The only problem I see with both production is Curly and Judd. (This is a big problem). Judd is coming off as a Lennie Small type character who really doesn't know any better. And Curly is coming off as a mean guy trying to win over Laurie from Judd...telling him to kill himself. The way Judd is SUPPOSED to be played is as an evil, evil man. Someone who even today's audience (a crowd mroe tolerant of people with disabilities) would HATE the guy. Curly should be much more of a GOOD guy.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 2:08am

Hugh Jackman DID play Curly as a good guy, in my opinion. And the reason why I ADORED Shuler Hensley's performance was because he made me feel so bad for him, and understand the way he thought. And I LOVED, for once, feeling empathy for the bad guy. What I didn't like was Nunn's choice to make Laurey dirt poor and a tomboy, the way she was in the original, original story. Rodgers and Hammerstein made Laurey a lady, so they wrote her songs very lady-like (Many A New Day, etc), and the songs didn't play well with Gabrielle in overalls and a sloppy bun. Otherwise, there was no audience, but I think the lines were fine, and I laughed watching the video- Vicky Simon as Ado Annie was a highlight. I loved her performance as well. All in all, I loved the performance, and although I never got to see it live, I am a huge fan of the revival version of this Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic.

[Horsey]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 2:20am

As good as Hugh Jackman's performance seems to be in OKLAHOMA. His performance in "The Boy From Oz" is about a trillion times better.
His portrayal of Peter Allen is (sure to be) legendary; and a shoe-in for the TONY Award. The unfortunate lipsyncing in OKLAHOMA is distracting.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 2:32am

I never liked Oklahoma much and this is making it worse.

[Horsey]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 2:38am

Then don't watch it honey. Turn it off.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 8:02am

I kinda got the feeling that it was a studio when Gabrielle ran through and endless cornfield.