Review Oklahoma (Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin)
Company of Oklahoma. Image by Marcin Lewandowski
June 23, 2026, marked the Irish opening night of the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein masterpiece Oklahoma! at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin—a festive night celebrating the launch of a brand-new, in-house production.
Oklahoma! tells the story of Laurey Williams (played by Molly Lynch) and Curly McLain (David James Whelan). They are joined by a stellar lead cast, including Oliver Flitcroft as Jud Fry, Rachel Gaughan as Ado Annie Carnes, Enda Oates as Andrew Carnes, Sacha Koplewsky as Will Parker, Molly Logan as Aunt Eller, and Julian Capolei as Ali Hakim.
Bringing the vibrant community to life is an ensemble of celebrated and rising stars, including Katie Rose Weir, Jessica Lee Hayes, Rachel Ensor, Jennifer O’Donovan, Chloe Riordan, Zoe Talbot, Aidan Jolliffe-Byrne, Brian Dalton, Reece McGowan, Caolán James, Benjamin Collins, James Deegan, and Stephen O’Riain.
Musicals at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre never disappoint. This is partly down to the incredible venue itself, but also because the audience is always so eager to see new productions after all the buzz on social media. Most of the time, Dublin is the only Irish destination for touring UK musicals.
This time, however, Dublin was the place to be for a completely different reason: the opening night of Oklahoma!—a fully Irish production playing a strictly limited run at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. What makes this version so special is that the entire cast is homegrown. In my eyes, that is something truly unique.
Before the show, I had no specific expectations and was unfamiliar with the plot, only knowing the name Oklahoma!. Now, almost 12 hours later, it is the only thing I can think about.
First of all, the audience was welcomed into the theatre by a classic red curtain, evoking a traditional, nostalgic atmosphere. The show started with an overture by the orchestra. While it felt a bit long because I was eager to see the show, the musical piece successfully brought the audience into the right mood. The set design was relatively simple in the first act, utilizing two wooden set pieces as a house, a windmill, and some fencing. However, at the end of act one, the set design took a complete 360-degree spin, which totally surprised me and created a brilliant "wow" experience.
Molly Lynch and Rachel Gaughan in Oklahoma. image by Marcin Lewandowski
The story follows Laurey, who wants to meet her soulmate and, unsure of what to do, buys a special bottle from the travelling peddler, Ali Hakim. She is told that if she smells the bottle, the aromas will lead her to her answer. During that specific moment of the show, no physical set pieces are left on stage—just the background changing colours. It is a beautiful, heartbreaking scene told entirely through dance and instrumental music. Even though the choreography felt a bit unorganised at times, and it seemed like the performers were focused on their individual movements rather than creating a cohesive group atmosphere, it was still a beautiful and memorable moment of the show.
During the second act, the pacing felt a bit rushed, especially at the end. Curly and Jud are bidding on marrying Laurey; Curly wins, but Jud is unhappy with the outcome and starts a fight later on. In a mysterious turn of events, Jud lands on his own knife and dies. Normally, they would go to a public court, but instead, the community holds its own makeshift trial on the spot. Right after, Laurey and Curly go away together in a horse-drawn carriage. While it was a visually beautiful moment, the ending felt rushed, especially since it was the conclusion of the show.
There were also some outstanding individual performances. Right at the beginning of the show, the audience was treated to a stunning dance piece choreographed by David Bolger. As Laurey, Molly Lynch’s voice is absolutely amazing, and the way she portrays the role is beautiful, soft, and gentle. Meanwhile, Rachel Gaughan, who portrays the role of Ado Annie Carnes, is so funny that she makes you want to be best friends with her. The chemistry between her and her co-star Sacha Koplewsky is phenomenal. And then, of course, the funniest person on stage is Julian Capolei; his performance playing the role of the peddler is just outstanding.
Oklahoma! is playing at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until July 5th.
Star rating: ★★★★
