The musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein have undoubtedly woven themselves into the fabric of our society. I know so from hearing people around me sing selections from songs in those musicals.
One of the first musicals I became familiar with was The Sound of Music, which I watched frequently growing up.
Musicals have attained cultural prominence, I feel, largely because of catchy lyrics that people can just belt out. One such song I would hear bits and pieces of was the title song from Oklahoma! At a certain point, I desired to watch the whole musical so I could hear the whole song in its context.
And that's what I did 15 years ago this summer. As was typical during that summer, I would volunteer at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library on Mondays, helping with the children's summer reading program. On Monday, June 27, I checked out Oklahoma! The next day, Tuesday, in the afternoon, I watched it, and I was taken by it. Certainly, the "Oklahoma" song was fabulous. But there were other songs, too, that captivated me, like "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning'", "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top", "Kansas City", "People Will Say We're in Love", and "The Farmer and the Cowman".
Oklahoma! is a great love story. Furthermore, it's also come to resonate with me lately as I think about how I've ordered my life in accordance with what I've come to see as what matters most. I see that in how Curly changes his lifestyle. And some of the songs speak about the land and its richness.
Two years after first viewing the movie, in 2007, I saw an amateur theater production of Oklahoma! at Walther Lutheran High School, which I thought was well-done. Then I went to see a professional production of it at the Lyric Opera, back in 2013.
A few years after watching Oklahoma!, I decided to watch another Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, State Fair, which, as I understand, was a movie first, and then went on stage to be a theatrical musical.
After watching it for the first time, it became one of my favorite movies, which I consider my favorite "classical era" movie. Like with my other favorites, I enjoy it so much because the story resonates with me on a deep level. I feel like I can relate to the characters, like Wayne, who falls for a joke that Emily Edwards poses about her being the daughter of the chief of police. I know in my own life, people have pulled my leg because I have misunderstood statements they've made.
I also like State Fair so much because it has enough conflict to keep the story interesting, but not so much that it's miserable. There's a real plot twist toward the end that seems heartbreaking but then makes a great recovery. In the face of pessimistic realities I encounter in life, some part of me wants to insist on optimism, just like Abel Frake insists nothing bad will happen at the fair in the face of Mr. Miller's constant insistence on negative compensation for happy circumstances. Somehow, throughout the movie, when circumstances start to sour, they manage to recover remarkably.
Like Oklahoma!, it's a great love story, without excess fluff. It also speaks to what really matters most in life. I have to say that I admire Pat for being "Mr. Wonderful" and providing Margey just what she earnestly desires. While I have not yet entered into any dating relationships, Pat is the type of character that inspires me to want to offer people some measure of genuine friendship that makes life worth living and affirms those to whom I extend my gestures of friendship and affection.
There's something about the setting of the Iowa State Fair that excites me, which is why I was immediately captivated by the opening song "Our State Fair is a Great State Fair". Usually, I view this movie in mid-August, when state and county fairs typically are scheduled. It's delightful to see the scenes of people enjoying the rides, playing the carnival games, and the competitions of animals and home-prepared foods. And perhaps I sense a connection to the story since my Grandfather Martin was born and raised in Iowa.
When I saw that the CAST program at Julian Middle School was going to hold a performance of State Fair back in February, I jumped at the chance to see it on stage. I sensed a personal connection seeing it at my former middle school, and that connection was enhanced when I recognized a couple of the students performing on stage, including one of my RE students. It was a little bit different than the movie, especially considering logistical matters, and some scenes I thought flowed oddly, like when Pat suddenly jumped up in front of Margery and started conversing with her as their way of meeting. But the story still spoke to me on stage as it did when I first saw the movie.
Perhaps there's something about State Fair, and other Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, that speaks to our deep-seated human desire for happiness that can be attained through meaningful relationships, the kind in which we can affirm and build up others, just as they do for us, sustaining us through all life's circumstances. And when we have a connection with who we are, and the places from which we come, we have much to offer each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment