Oklahoma! proves huge success as part of theatre youth project, writes Sandra Carter.

Oklahoma! the musical is 75 years old. Will it bore today’s young performers? Will they be able to put any life and relevance into this oldie?

No, it doesn’t faze them. And yes, 160 local youngsters put passion, vitality and enormous energy into a performance that threatens to raise the roof and brings the audience to a standing ovation at its opening night on Thursday.

This annual extravaganza seems to get better and better. Wycombe Swan Summer Youth Project selects 160 youngsters aged 9 to 21 at auditions in the spring, and brings them together for just two weeks before putting on the show at The Swan.

Just two weeks to perfect their acting, singing and dancing roles, and for the young technical teams to sort lighting, props, scenery and sound. Opening night on Thursday went without a single glitch.

Much of the credit, of course, goes to the team of professionals who prepare the way, including director Matthew Dye, Jamie Sansom in his first year as producer, Carole King as musical director, and Felicity Kirwin as choreographer. An inspiring team - and the kids take full advantage of the opportunity to work with them.

The two lead parts are outstanding: Adam Richards, 20, opens the show with a confident and rousing performance of Oh What a Beautiful Morning - and we know it is going to be a brilliant evening.

Lily Wood, 17, shows equal talent in her singing, and the pair weave magic as their relationship ebbs and flows.

Aaron Wood is effective as the sad baddie, while Bethany Hines belies her teenage years by playing a bent and aged Aunt Eller with perfect old lady body language and lots of humour.

Providing the real comic laughs is Daniel Stubbs-Benbow as the Persian peddler Ali, who milks his role for every bit of humour potential. Great voice, too.

And the other 154? Every one of them perform beautifully. 

The stage is often packed with youngsters of all ages, but with clever choreography, and everyone confident what to do, these scenes provide a dazzlingly energetic experience.

The well known songs themselves are of course iconic.

But the director milks them for added dramatic effect, providing lots of activity in the background throughout a song - such as a group of heady girls chasing the handsome peddler, with Aunt Eller following behind with a shotgun

A wonderfully effective feature is the appearance of two cute little kids representing Curly and Laurey as children, who appear when they are looking back at their childhood friendship.

Altogether our local youngsters put on a brilliant show for the audiences.