From the moment when the character Curly waltzed on stage crooning “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” to the final cast collaboration of the title song, “Oklahoma!” pulled the audience through the historical musical with bangs at each end of the show.

Although Trevor Helmers, who played Curly, speaks modestly of his vocal abilities, his deep, throaty voice was a treat to listen to the entire performance. After he serenaded the audience right off the bat with “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’,” he followed through with a strong duet with Leslie Schafer, who played Laurey, in “People Will Say We’re in Love.”

Schafer’s character was executed simply and to the point as a stubborn girl insecurely in love. Her innocence combined with sassiness was an interesting combination in her interactions with Curly.

In the first scene, it was obvious right away that she was playing off her true feelings toward Curly when she saw him – secretly pretending she didn’t really notice him or care about his intentions. This central theme was carried on throughout the first act until the lovers finally gave in to each other in the reprise of “People Will Say We’re in Love” in the second half of the show.

Another couple that stepped out from the always-busy stage were Courtney Luttrell as Ado Annie and Rich Fulkerson as Will Parker. Their flirty and incredibly ditzy personalities added bits of humor to the more serious plot following Curly and Laurey. Both situations between Ado Annie and Will and Curly and Laurey were the same story – an unrealized love. Both had their nemeses, which jolted their already awkward relationships.

In Ado and Will’s case, it was Zac Barclay, as Ali Hackim, a cheesy Persian traveling salesman. Ali was a false obstacle in Ado and Will’s relationship, as he really didn’t want Ado, but was an exciting alternative for her, who always seemed to want to keep her options open.

In her whimsical “I Can’t Say No,” she describes her irresistible love for the “fellers” who she never seems to forget throughout the musical, even when Will finally wins her hand in the end.

A more threatening character stands in the way of Curly and Laurey’s love – greasy, dirty, violent Jud Fry. Although she despises him, Laurey uses him at the beginning of the story to make Curly jealous. She grows to fear him after she makes the mistake of saying she’ll attend the town box social with him, causing Fry to start threatening Curly out of jealousy.

The highly anticipated dream sequence at the end of the first act could stand alone as the major highlight of the entire show. Utilizing the women of the ensemble to create a light and airy atmosphere on stage along with their ballet movements, the focus was then placed on Curly and Laurey.

The enchanting scene let the audience into the inner emotions of the two characters and led to the climax where Jud appears and kills Curly at a wedding scene between him and Laurey. The final image of Curly lying in a heap in the spotlight was a great end to a pivotal point in the story and was effective as a foreshadowing tool for Jud’s own final defeat in the end.

After Curly and Laurey finally wed and Curly is dismissed in regard to the death of Jud, the musical came to a close with the cast coming together for “Oklahoma,” a vibrant last impression for ISU theater and Stars Over Veishea’s successful rendition of a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.