How do you pay homage to a pair of musical theatre geniuses?
You create a dream state where some of their best works are presented all in one performance.
That’s the premise behind Gateway Theatre’s upcoming production Rodgers and Hammerstein: Out of a Dream.
“The goal in creating this production was to pay loving tribute to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II — two men who I believe transformed musical theatre from pleasant entertainment to a divine art form unlike any other,” said Peter Jorgensen, the show’s director/choreographer. “Though my intent was not to create a new story, it was always my hope to find a way to balance the music of Richard Rodgers with the theatre of Oscar Hammerstein. So just as Laurie did in Oklahoma! we enter… a dream.”
That dream hits Gateway’s MainStage from April 9 - 25 with Lower Mainland-based performers from Patrick Street Productions providing the talent.
“As you watch this dream unfold you may find yourself weaving a story of your own, or several stories, or none at all… relationships will shift and the dream may become surprising, confusing, and even (lest we forget that R&H had their dark sides) unpleasant,” Jorgensen said. “On whatever journey this dream does take you, I hope you feel, as I do, the extraordinary reach of Rodgers and Hammerstein as they strive to express all that is unsayable about the experience of loving someone who loves being loved by you.”
There are classic songs from popular musicals such as The Sound of Music, The King and I, and Oklahoma!There are also lesser known songs that will appeal to die-hard musical fans.
Jovanni Sy, Gateway’s artistic director, also expressed his reverence for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s work and the place in the entertainment industry.
“Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II formed one of the most influential artistic partnerships of the 20th century,” Sy said. “Many of the shows they created are still performed regularly and the songs they wrote have become enduring standards.”
Given their success, it’s easy to overlook the fact the duo were also innovators and trailblazers,” Sy added.
“Their 1943 landmark show Oklahoma!marked a revolution in the musical theatre form and launched the golden age of musicals,” he said. “Before Oklahoma!, songs in musicals tended to be diversions from, or incidental to, the play’s plot.”
What set apart Rodgers and Hammerstein was the fact the music and dance numbers were integrated into the storytelling. It’s something Sy has had personal experience with having performed in Gateway Theatre’s 2013 production of The King and I.
“I can personally attest that interpreting a Rodgers and Hammerstein song demands the same rigour as delivering a Shakespeare soliloquy,” he said. “Each word and every note they chose demands technical precision and artistic integrity.”
Because of that, compiling their work into a cohesive production is quite a task, Sy said, heaping praise on Jorgenson for accomplishing the feat.
“Because each song that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote is so deeply embedded in the narrative flow of their original plays, it takes a truly ingenious artist to fashion a revue out of their music,” Sy said. “Taking the songs out of context and creating a cohesive experience is no small task. And yet, that is exactly what Peter Jorgensen has done.”
