Theatre--Review

IPAL has begun its 2009 season with the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma!. The remaining run is March 20th-29th, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 P.M. and the two Sunday matinees at 3:00 P.M. The ESSANEE theatre is located at 126 Iberia Street in New Iberia. Check the availability of seats by calling 364-6114.

With Oklahoma!, IPAL has become THE PREMIER musical production company in this area, and I’m including professional companies. One reason is that there is another director on call in New Iberia to spell Katherine Caffery, the doyenne of musical theatre for IPAL, namely Donald “Doc” Voorhies, the director of Oklahoma!.

I first met Doc when he was just a “kid”- in theatre years, anyway. He quickly moved up the ranks, seamlessly managing the complicated scene changes in My Fair Lady (directed by Katherine). Last year he directed the delightful and successful Little Shop Of Horrors. Anyway, there is a rumor afoot that in a couple of years, with two competent directors to handle such ambitious productions, IPAL may move to an almost exclusively musical season.

A good director may be necessary, but is not sufficient, for such a successful show. This play has a cast of nearly sixty, and a production staff almost as large. This staff consists of choreographers, lighting and sound specialists, carpenters, and musicians- in fact, it seems all of New Iberia and surrounding towns. But the one presence that seems a common element in all these successes is orchestra conductor Bob Morgan and his talented ensemble. It has been at least fifty years since I’ve heard "Oh! What A Beautiful Morning" and "Oklahoma". I’ll admit that I had a lump in my throat when Morgan and the group played them in the overture.

It is virtually impossible to recognize all of the talent in this production. But you will be delighted by the budding relationship between the lovers Brett LeBlanc (Curly) and Brittany Monaghan (Laurey). When they sang, "People Will Say We’re In Love", I thought, “You’re absolutely right!” Brittany has a lovely voice and is absolutely convincing as Brett’s love interest. Brett has a wonderful stage presence and made a believer of me when he sold his pistol to buy her hand in marriage. But wait a minute, Brett! Weren’t you Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., a sadist in Doc’s last production? Oh, well- you are versatile.

I must admit that I was thinking of myself and future financial security when I got some of the other young stars to sign my program. A great casting coup was the other young couple, Martha Diaz as Ado Annie and her eventual sweetie, Travis Guillory as Will Parker. Both of these young people are triple threats. They can act, sing and dance. They also have the two funniest numbers in the play, "I Cain’t Say No!" and "All Er Nuttin’". If you are from out of town and don’t know them, Martha is number three in the multi-talented Diaz family–-the local version of the Barrymores. Legend has it that Travis was off-book in a dozen musicals when he was three.

Anyway, I have their autographs along with those of Doc, Carmen Nicholson (Aunt Eller), Jacqueline McCarthy (Virginia) and Carmen Gonsoulin (Chorus Child). I’m saving it in liquid nitrogen for twenty years, when the young ones, anyway, will be stars. I will then sell it on ebay. If you are interested you better start filling your check book.

---Robert D. Sidman, Ph.D.