NOTRE DAME SPRING MUSICAL 'OKLAHOMA' IS... BETTER THAN OK (THEATER REVIEW)

The spring musical at Notre Dame High School is one of the school's most enduring traditions. This year, more than one-third of the school's 400 students are involved in "Oklahoma!", including the 53 in the cast. The tradition is handed down from class to class and generation to generation.

The school last presented "Oklahoma!" in 1969, when the cast included the students who have become well-known community members. Doug Rigdon had the male lead of Curly, Mike Kohlfeld was the oily peddler Ali Hakim, and Jim Maurer played Cord. Cathy Cheek, whose maiden name was Little, had the female lead, Laurey. Carol Glueck, a member of the chorus, is now teaching at Notre Dame.

You can bet many of them will be in the audience reminiscing when the musical opens tonight and continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Notre Dame cafeteria. Curtains are at 8 p.m. Admission is $6 per person.

Testifying to the annual musical's popularity and perhaps to the durability of "Oklahoma!", all 525 reserved seats already are sold out for all four nights. An additional 200 general admission seats will be available at the door each night.

"Oklahoma!" is set in 1907, just before the "Indian Territory" became a state. Friction between the cowboys and farmers and competition for women sets the tone. Many songs in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical have become Americana: "Oh What a Beautiful Morning," "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "People Will Say We're in Love" and the title tune.

This "Oklahoma!" offers authentic looking sets, mood-setting lighting, well-engineered sound and smart Western costumes. Vocal director Ellen Seyer and the orchestra conducted by Jim Hindman have showcased each tune and the singers nicely. This production does not short-change the musical's lesser-known songs, such as the humorous "Poor Jud is Daid."

Choreographer Deana Pecord's cowboy chorus line is great fun, and director Cynthia R. King once again has marshaled a huge cast and crew into a pleasurable production.

The 2001 show offers Jill Eichhorn and Phillip Davidson in the leads. The dream portrait they make when Curly dreams up a fringe-topped surrey to serenade Laurey is a tipoff that the boy is going to get the girl. Eichhorn's lovely voice anchors many scenes, and she simply is the pertly feisty Laurey. The lanky Davidson brings real charm to his role, sings with gusto and could pass for the bronc buster he plays.

Blake Fisher as Will Parker and Jenny Frey as the fickle filly Ado Annie also are perfectly cast. Fisher has a loose-jointed air as the love-smitten cowpoke, and his dancing to "Kansas City" is one of the production's choreographic highlights. Frey is exuberantly matter of fact as the girl who "cain't say no."

Amanda Strohmeyer is a strong and assured presence as Aunt Ellen. Matthew Long is convincing as the scary hired man Jud, and Matthew Frey looks right at home in the noise-making suits worn by Ali Hakim. Maggie Devaney has devised the world's most annoying laugh in the role of Gertie, Curley's sometime date.

Also fine in smaller roles are Ben Essner as Ado Annie's father Carnes, Brad Bohannon as Ike Skidmore, Paul Unterreiner as Slim and Joseph Dufek as Cord Elam.

Members of the ensemble are: Bryanna Barrett, Libby Beussink, Amy Bollinger, Tiffany Brey, Amy Buehrle, Katie Canfield, Kim Crader, Casey Cuba, Hanna Davis, William Dicus, Amber Elfrink, Scott Elsey, Melissa Enderle, Elizabeth Fluegge, Sarah Gosche, Amanda Gosche, Jake Hency, Blake Heuring, Katie Howard and Casie Janet.

Other members are: David Jaquith, Ashtia Jewell, Jennifer Kaelin, Courtland Kohlfeld, Jordan Kuper, Susan Layton, Sara Meystedt, Jessica Morrow, Katie Palmer, Ashley Reinagel, Lisa Roe, Stephen Schwartz, Liesl Schoenberger, Ryan Simmons, Jennifer Stout, Layne Strattman, Andrew Strohmeyer, Sarah Unterreiner and Amber Winkler.

The assistant directors are Lindsay Kuper and Jennifer Stout, the assistant chroeographers are Tiffany Brey and Jennifer Stout and the stage managers are Matt Buchheit and Geoffrey Seyer.

WANT TO GO?

WHEN: Opens 8 p.m. tonight and continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

WHERE: Notre Dame cafeteria

COST: $6 per person.

INFORMATION: All 525 reserved seats already are sold out. But an additional 200 general admission seats will be available at the door each night.