Customer Reviews

Oklahoma! Selections From The Original 1980 London Cast Recording (1980 London Revival Cast)

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None of the power you expect from this great musical. British cast trying to have a country drawl is weird.

This cast album to the 1980 London revival of OKLAHOMA! is a good, if not essential, addition to your collection. The cast album was recorded live during a performance of the show.

John Diedrich gives a great performance as Curly. He offers up a virile rendition of "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'", and his "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" is jaunty and lovely. Rosamund Shelley is adequate in the role of Laurey, though her soprano voice sounds pinched and forced on this recording. Her rendition of "Many a New Day" is quite good and only her reading of "Out of My Dreams" raises her performance above the level of mediocrity.

Jillian Mack (who would go on to marry Tom Selleck), gives a sprightly performances as Ado Annie Carnes. Her "I Cain't Say No" is just what is called for, and her duet with Mark White (as Will Parker) in "All 'Er Nuthin'" is a joy.

This cast album also features Alfred Molina as menacing farmhand Jud, and Madge Ryan as Aunt Eller. The sound quality is quite good considering that it was only recorded using the house and body-mikes, and the presentation is average.

Given the huge abundance of OKLAHOMA! cast albums available, I would first buy the far-superior 1979 Broadway revival (with Christine Andreas) or the recent 1998 London revival (with Hugh Jackman and Josefina Gabrielle).

The performances were taped life in the theatre with no-name British cast. With so many GOOD (and more complete) recordings of OKLAHOMA! there is no need to waste time or money on this.