You Cain’t Say No: Oklahoma officially opens at the Young Vic Theatre 

Oklahoma! blesses the West End with its modern revamp and spectacular cast, taking a classic and plain musical and turning it into a uniquely comedic and haunting experience that sticks with its audience.  

This production follows the same progression as the 2019 revival, which focuses on immersion and contemporary expressionism rather than the average theatre experience. The production is set with the audience on three sides of the action, with the performance occurring on the floor in the middle, with the band and performers being up-close and personal. It adds to the atmosphere of every scene, from adding good comedic moments of Ado Annie flirting with an audience member or the uncomfortable scenes in the dark.  

The staging of the show is what heightens it from its basic source material, as well as the talent of the cast. The modern use of different techniques such as lighting, sound, etc is used perfectly throughout. The scenes that set you on edge leave you feeling shaken for a while after. The vast contrast of light is key, as we begin with the bright lights of the morning, with the stage and the audience being lit for the first 20 minutes of act 1, then we begin to go more into these different lightings, like a green that covers the performers but leaves the audience in the dark so they cannot be seen anymore, or the most effective choice, which was mainly done in involvement with Jud, where all the lights turned off completely, leaving everyone in pitch black. It immediately makes the audience tense and be wary of Jud, alike Laurey. It’s best to go into this production not knowing much of how they stage it as the surprise is what makes it so effective.