Well, I do. The Grand Rapids Civic Theater will be putting on this show this year, and I think I may want to audition. Trouble is, this show is not my favorite. I don't hate it completely. In fact, I think I hate the Music Man more. So, in preparation for any auditions I might undertake, and because I'd never seen the movie all the way through, I just up and bought this one. (I have issues about renting movies at $4 a pop...that's like a quarter or a third of the purchase price).
I watched it and am frustrated with myself. I'm not into the traditional musicals as much. Those "Americana" musicals such as this one and Music Man and others. They're a bit...hokey. I know, they're old and celebrate those "American Dream" type values. I guess I like musicals with non-traditional undercurrents, maybe?
Though I don't know if that's true. I like Kiss Me Kate and Singin' in the Rain a lot, they're two of my favorites. I like Ragtime....
I think it's the "down home" aspect of Oklahoma! that gets my goat. Hey, did you know that Mama Partridge is Laurey, the heroine, in the movie? I mean, you've got this stubborn cowboy and farmgirl who can't admit that they're crazy about each other, and she complicates it by getting involved with a surly and unstable farmhand just to make Curly (the hero) jealous. As it turns out, though, Jud (the surly farmhand) can be both jealous and dangerous. In the middle of this plot...tons of toe tapping songs.
I don't hate it. These songs are famous. I just don't think I needed to own it. I'll only pull it out once in a great while, when I want to dream about that Surrey with the Fringe on Top. I guess. If you like the traditionals, this is about as traditional as they come. In fact, Oklahoma! is considered the first musical to have songs that actually advance the plot. Leave it to that Rodgers and Hammerstein.
And the movie is well done. I'd give it a 9 (near perfect/entertaining). I can't fault the movie for its subject matter. It's my own bias.
Still, of the R&H fare, I prefer the Sound of Music. The hills are alive, after all.