Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. A secondary romance concerns flirtatious Ado Annie and her long-suffering fiancé Will Parker.

The original Broadway production opened on March 31 , 1943. It was a box-office smash and ran for an unprecedented 2,212 performances, later enjoying award-winning revivals, national tours, foreign productions and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film adaptation. It has long been a popular choice for school and community productions.[1]

This musical, building on the innovations of the earlier Show Boat, epitomized the development of the "book musical", a musical play where the songs and dances are fully integrated into a well -made story, with serious dramatic goals, that is able to evoke genuine emotions other than laughter.[2] In addition, Oklahoma! features musical themes, or motifs, that recur throughout the work to connect the music and story more closely than any musical ever had before.[3] A special Pulitzer Prize was awarded to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for Oklahoma! in the category of "Special Awards And Citations - Letters" in 1944.[4]

Because The play has not yet reached a certain level of popularity in China, so there is very little information in Chinese.

If you really need it, I can help you translate it.

I guess you just watched the film and television gramophone Saw it

Yes, that is the 1999 version starring HUGH JACKMAN

PS The following is not a translation, I have no time these days.

Oklahoma" "OKLAHOMA" is an American music Created by the joint efforts of two great masters in the world. With music composed by RICHARD RODGERS and lyrics by OSCAR HAMMER STEN, it is an epoch-making song and dance drama with the theme of describing a love triangle that took place in the American West Country in the early 20th century.

According to statistics, this pair of partners has won 26 Dongli Awards, 14 Oscars, two Pulitzer Prizes and two Grammy Awards each year since 1943. This is a huge number of awards. It can be said to be unprecedented. The influence of "Oklahoma" in the United States and the world is unparalleled, no less than that of "Cats", "Phantom of the Opera", "Les Misérables" and other dramas that appeared after the 1980s, and even directly or indirectly influenced her subsequent musicals. of creation. Shortly after landing in Normandy, the U.S. military was hit by Hitler's Ardennes Counterattack. A large number of English-speaking German special forces wore U.S. uniforms and sneaked into the rear of the U.S. military to engage in sabotage activities. In desperation, the U.S. military came up with the idea to use "Oklahoma" The aria of "Horse" was used as the catchphrase (it is estimated that the Germans had not heard this play under Hitler's rule at that time). The popularity of the play is evident from this.

The first work they collaborated on was "Oklahoma!" (1943). Like "Show Boat", this is also a play that fully reflects the native American life and culture and is very important to the United States. The impact of theater has been immeasurable. After that, the two of them collaborated on "Carousel" (1945), "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), "The Sound of Music" (The Sound of Music)(1959). In 1943, Oscar rewrote the French opera composer Bizet's "Carmen" as "Carmen Jone" (1943), which was performed by an entire black cast. The play was performed 502 times. , and made into a movie in 1954. It reflects Oscar's advanced and enlightened ideological realm. In addition to the five most famous plays mentioned above, Oscar's collaboration with Richard also includes some quite outstanding plays. One of them is "Allegro" (1947), which tells the story of a doctor from birth to death. He wrote the music first and then constructed the plot. It is a bold and experimental work, and Oscar has always wanted to repeat it again. Do this play again. Also included are "Me and Juliet" (1953), "Pipe Dream" (1955), "Cinderella" (1957) and "Flower Drum Song" )(1958). In 1961, "Flower Drum Song" was put on the screen, describing the love story of a Chinese girl who immigrated to the United States and took place in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Oklahoma, produced in 1943, is a milestone in the history of musicals. It was the result of the first collaboration between two of the most influential musical theater writers in the United States, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was also the first musical to use music and dance to depict characters and develop stories, so it is also known as It is said to be the first musical with a plot. This play won the Pulitzer Prize for Best Screenplay, which is very important in the American literary world. Because all of its songs have been included, "Oklahoma" is also the first musical ever to have original cast recordings released.

"Oklahoma" is adapted from the novel Green Grow the Lilacs by female writer Lynn Riggs. Riggs grew up in Oklahoma and she herself is part of the Chakira Indian tribe. "Oklahoma" describes the love and hatred that occurred in the original Indian settlements of the American West at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The struggle between the heroine Laurey and her two admirers, the cowboy Curly and the farmer Jud, is actually the best portrayal of the conflict between the local cowboys and farmers at that time.

When "Oklahoma" was still in rehearsals, it had already been criticized by many media. At that time, there were no big-name stars, fancy gags, or sexy backup dancers. The musical had no hope of being a box office success. Such a musical, which is close to a real drama and has a strong sense of reality and tragedy, has been labeled as an art drama by the media and commentators before it was staged. In particular, its choreographer was Agnes De Mille, the most famous ballet choreographer and actor in the United States at that time, which makes people think that it is a pure literary form of spring and snow. This attitude undoubtedly makes the funding of "Oklahoma" a big problem, because if a musical cannot guarantee the interests of investors at the box office, no one will be willing to pay.

However, the performance of "Oklahoma" changed the entire situation. Before the performance, New York newspapers still wrote, "No pretty women, no funny stories, no chance!" But after the premiere, the newspapers immediately changed their emphasis to "No pretty women, no funny stories, no chance!" I can’t buy a ticket either!” The reason is that the writing and production of the play are so good that it deeply attracts the attention of all the audience from the moment the curtain opens, leaving people still interested after the curtain falls. Therefore, "Oklahoma" premiered at the St. James Theater in New York on March 31, 1943, and performed for nearly six years, recording 2,248 performances. At that time, and later It has been the longest-running play for fifteen years. During this period, a ten-year nationwide tour brought "Oklahoma" to more than 10 million viewers in more than 250 cities in the United States. After the New York crew finished the show, they also toured 71 cities. Before the end of World War II, performances were performed in Europe, South Africa, Northern Europe, Australia, and in U.S. military stations. In London, its longest run between performances broke the 300-year-old record held by the Drury Lane Theatre.

In 1955, "Oklahoma" was made into a movie, directed by Fred Zinnemann, who had already won two Oscars (he had eight nominations and won three times. He won The award-winning From Here to Eternity has recently been released on DVD. It is a classic among black and white films and is highly recommended - Translator's Note). The film won two Oscars. Among them, Shirley Jones, who played Laurey, was acting in a movie for the first time. She later won an Oscar in 1960, but modern people know her because of her role in The Partridge Family, which she filmed from 1970 to 1974. In this musical comedy TV series, She plays a single mother of five children.

When talking about musicals, we must mention the musical "Oklahoma!". It suddenly became popular in 1943. Broadway audiences and critics were deeply impressed by its novelty, vividness, and excitement. Deeply fascinated.

This new musical theater form combines drama, music, lyric poetry, dance and stage background. These elements do not merely provide entertainment and complexity, but are unified by a unified atmosphere. concepts are closely integrated. This means that the play is composed of a wonderful and powerful structure, rather than a series of unrelated songs, dances and light plots; it also means that its songs and dances must be very consistent with the needs of the plot. They are created according to the situation, and the songs and dances should not interrupt the plot, but promote the development of the plot. And in this show, it’s no longer an extra and a fun side. It is as important as other factors.

Agnes de Mille, the choreographer of "Oklahoma!", creates dances with free and unrestrained ideas. From superb classical ballet and modern dance to American folk dance, they are widely used. The result is The show features unprecedentedly spectacular and awe-inspiring choreography performed by these talented dancers and singers. The choreography of the play later also choreographed the famous classic dances from "West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the Roof".

This refreshing musical is very charming.

In fact, apart from Fury, the other characters in the drama include the energetic ranch boy Cali, the beautiful farm girl Laurel, the cheerful aunt, the simple-minded cowboy Will, and even a little silly Huhu. The rash girl A'duo and the ranch girl with a high-pitched laugh are all very cute. They embody the vitality and strong vitality of this emerging new continent at the beginning of the last century. The success of the play is inseparable from the spirit of the times represented by the characters in the play.

In the play, "What a beautiful morning" is sung by Cali, as well as "The carriage with the lace canopy", as well as by the angry Laurel. "The sun and the moon are always new" are very beautiful and have become popular songs.

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Characters

Laurey Williams Laurie

Jud Fry Chad, farmhand

Aunt Eller Murphy Aunt Eller, Laurie's Aunt

Will Parker Will Parker, Ado Annie's suitor

Ado Annie Carnes Ado Anne Carnes

Andrew Carnes Andrew· Kearns, Edo Anne's father, local judge

Ali Hakim Ali Hakim, Persian, peddler

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Plot

The plot information comes from "The Complete Book of Light Opera" written by Mark Lubbock. 1962.

Act 1

At the beginning of the 20th century, in the American West where Indians once lived, cowboys and farmers had frequent conflicts over land and water.

Aunt Eller was stirring butter outside her house, and the young cowboy Curly came over singing ("Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" -- "Oh, What a beautiful morning”). Kelly is here to invite Aunt Eller's niece, Laurey, to the dance tonight. Laurie received Kerry, but her attitude toward him was not very warm. In order to cheer her up, Kerry told her about the carriage he was going to drive tonight ("Surrey with the Fringe on Top"--"Fringe with the Fringe on Top"). wheel carriage"). However, he finally confessed that the fringed carriage was just a figment of his imagination, which made Laurie even more angry. At this time, Will Parker came and told them about his recent experience in Kansas City ("Kansas City" -- "Kansas City"). He won fifty dollars in the calf roping competition. To him, this fifty dollars was quite important. He wanted to marry AdoAnnie, but his father, Andrew Carnes, a local judge, would not approve of the marriage unless he could save fifty dollars.

Although he ignored Kerry, Laurie actually really liked Kerry. In order to make Kelly jealous, she decided to go to the dance with Jud, a hired servant. When she heard that Kelly was going to the dance with another girl, her reaction was just indifferent ("Manya New Day" -- "There are many new days"). At this time, Aido Anne announced her dance partner, who turned out to be the Persian vendor Ali Hakim. She also said that she really could not refuse any man ("I Can't Say No" -- "I Can’t say no”). Ali's teasing with Aido Anne was caught by her father, and the angry judge forced Ali to marry his daughter.

Will spent all his fifty dollars on gifts for Adore Anne.

When Kelly and Laurie met again, they decided to go to the dance together. But they don't want their neighbors to know their true motives ("PeopleWill Say We're in Love" -- "People Will Say We're in Love"). But the next headache was telling Chad the news. Kelly found Chad's cabin, which was actually a bacon smoking room, dark and shabby. Kelly first told Chad that although everyone seemed unfriendly to him, in fact they all thought he was good. If he died, many people would attend his funeral and they would cry a lot ("PoreJud!" -- "Poor Chad!"). He then told Chad Lowry that he wanted to go to prom with him. After he left, Chad felt sad alone in his room ("Lonely Room").

Laurie's dream transforms into a grand dance. She dreams of marrying Kelly, but their happiness is interrupted by Chad, who beats Kelly and then forces Laurie to run away with him. Chad's arrival awakens her nightmare. He comes to ask Laurie to go to the dance with him. Then, Kelly came to Laurie's house and asked for the same thing. Laurie fears that the events in her dream are a preview of the future, and she decides to go with Chad. Kelly, on the other hand, was left standing there, puzzled.

Act 2

The dance that night was indeed very cheerful and interesting. The cowboys and farmers joked about their quarrel ("The Farmer and the Cowman" -- "The Farmer and the Cowman" Cattleman"). The next activity was an auction of food boxes made by girls. Men paid money to buy boxes made by girls they liked. Laurie's box immediately became the object of contention between Keri and Chad. Carey finally sold all his belongings and bought the food box at a high price of $42.31. At the same time, Ali spent fifty yuan to buy all the gifts from Weir. It turned out that Ali did not want to marry Aido, but he wanted to help Weir get his wish. So Will and Ado talked animatedly about their future lives ("Allor Nothin'" -- "All or Nothing").

Three months later, Kelly and Laurie's wedding will be held. At this time, a drunken Chad suddenly appeared at the wedding. He threatened Kelly with a knife, and the two struggled. In the middle, Chad fell on the blade and died. Aido's father, Judge Kearns, began an emergency trial, but the final result was that Kelly was acquitted, so Kelly took his beloved girl on a honeymoon ("Oklahoma!"--"Oklahoma!" !")

Production

Music Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II

Script Oscar Hammerstein II

Original script by Lynn Riggs (Green Grow the Lilacs)

Produced by The Theater Guild

Directed by Rouben Mamoulian

Choreographed by Agnes de Mille