I’ll never recover from this Curly McClain (permed Hugh hello).
Oklahoma is so special to me, nobody can even say. I know there's suicidal concepts and Laurie basically trips out on drugs, I know. But the music and the characters are so iconic, and the script moves in such an effortlessly staccato way that it's upbeat the entire time. It keeps you guessing and riveted with anticipation even if I've seen it 100 times throughout my three decades.
Rogers & Hammerstein's production with Gordon and Shirley was the first musical I remember watching as a child, and the first play I ever saw in theatre. For a long time, this has been my chart topping #1, recently outsed by The Greatest Showman.
This man hasn't aged a day. He's consistent, he's daring, and he takes chances unlike anyone I've ever seen. It's almost overwhelming.
There's nearly two decades between Showman and Oklahoma, and you'd never know it.
I can say confidently, and I think I'm qualified as a lifelong fan, that Hugh Jackman absolutely kills this script, in the best way.
He carries the weight of this play on those broad, Wolverine-style shoulders of his. Musically, theatricality, charismatically, he really does the whole thing. He's the embodiment of theatrical and stage presence. My vote, his picture goes in Webster next to theater.
You can see this man was born for the stage and that it races through his veins. He simply just runs on theatre, I think. It pistons through him like a locomotive.
And, what's most beautiful?
He loves this. It fulfills him.
Parts of this cast were not that strong, but Aunt Eller (Maureen Lipman), Curly (Hugh Jackman) and Jud (Shuler Hensley) made this absolutely shine. They breathed life into a script that's good, but been done at nauseum, and brought so much passion to their characters that I remembered how I felt the first time.
I got to relive that moment, while also falling love with Hugh Jackman all over again. He's truly the best.
Anyone who knows me knows I said this about Val Kilmer last year. Stephen Lang. And while I do love Val and Stephen, I stand corrected. I really do think Hugh outshines them all, and this is my official statement saying he's it for me. He's in my top three, right next to Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson.
Special, this is truly special. Absolutely adored it. I'll never not love this.
