Oklahoma! is firmly etched into the American musical theatre canon. Somewhat less known is the musical’s original basis: Lynn Riggs’ play with music Green Grow the Lilacs. Named after the Irish folk song, the play features the same characters and largely the same plot as the musical. Set in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in 1900, Green Grow the Lilacs revolves around 18-year-old Laurey Williams and her two rival suitors: handsome cowboy Curly McClain and the growly ranch hand Jeeter Fry. The play’s structure is unique in that it is a one-act play with six scenes, some of which happen at the same time as the events of the previous scene. There are also musical interludes between scenes and the insertion of folk songs throughout (the folk songs were replaced by original songs in the musical). As a one-act, the play’s characters are less fully defined than they would become in Oklahoma!, but the templates are very much evident in this piece of theatre history.
Green Grow the Lilacs guide sections
