Oklahoma

Synopsis

The show tells the story of a group of people, farmers and cowmen, trying to co-exist and maintain their conflicting lifestyles against a backdrop of an emerging new state, Oklahoma. Laurey, the niece of Aunt Eller, is in love with Curly, a cowboy. She is herself the subject of the attentions of Jud Fry, a hired hand on Aunt Eller's farm. Jud, a rather shady character, is vying with Curly for the chance to take Laurey to the Box Social. Laurey has a dream and in the dream ballet sees herself being carried off by Jud during a tragic wedding scene. At the Box Social each girl's supper hamper is auctioned off to the highest bidder who has the hamper and the girl for the evening. Curly outbids Jud for the right to take Laurey to the Box Social at the expense of selling all of his worldly goods including his gun and his horse. Laurey now consents to marry Curly. Ado Annie, who can't say no to any man, has become involved with Ali Hakim an itinerant pedlar, although she's promised to Will Parker who has arrived hotfoot from Kansas with a load of presents for her. After Laurey's wedding, Jud emerges from hiding to challenge Curly. A fight ensues and Jud falls on his knife, fatally injured. An impromptu court finds Curly not guilty but only after the timely intervention of Aunt Eller.