Oklahoma! comes to Greenwood

By Vanessa Hazlett
Arts and Culture Editor

Oklahoma!, the first musical play written by the famous Rogers and Hammerstein duo, will be performed at the local Greenwood Community Theater in February. Two Erskine sophomores, Adam Sanders and Taylor Rhodes, decided to go beyond Due West to participate in the community production. Sanders plays the supporting role of a cowboy, Will Parker, who returns to his small hometown bedazzled and souvenir-laden from a trip to the relatively modern Kansas City. Rhodes is part of the singing and dancing ensemble. Oklahoma! features a couple of young cowboys who win the hearts of their sweethearts in the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the century. This endearing tale has been nominated for almost ten Tony Awards in the last fifty years. The show features many Broadway classic songs such as, “Oklahoma!” “Kansas City,” “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’,” and “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top.”

Rhodes has been performing at the Greenwood Community Theater since she was six years old. She says of the show, “Oklahoma! is a very exciting show, full of dancing and singing. The conflict between the farmers and the cowboys ensues, while two love stories add romance and humor to the mix. Anyone would love it!”

Oklahoma! is Sander’s first performance at Greenwood Theater. Thrilled to be such in a large role, Sanders says of his experience, “You've got people of all ages from six to sixty! It's been an awesome way to meet people outside of Erskine. I hope all who come will have a good time and laugh a little! That's what this show does, it makes you smile! It's one of those classic, cheesy and hokey musicals that's got great music and dancing and a fun plot. YEE HAW!”

The play opens Friday, February 15th and runs for seven more night and matinee performances. Tickets are $13 for students with I.D., $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for children under twelve. The Greenville Community Theater is located at 110 Main Street, Greenwood. Tickets can be purchased through Sanders and Rhodes or by calling the box office at 864-229-5704. For more information, visit the City of Greenwood website: http://ci.greenwood.sc.us/.

The clique life of an Erskine student

The scene is Moffat, you are eating with a friend before one of the rushes come in. Once Moffat starts filling, some of your friends come over, but you are not greeted as warmly as you expect: "why aren't you at a bigger table to accommodate us? Why are you sitting in a way that doesn't let (name) sit by (name)?" As they walk off to get their food, you glance at your friend who shares the same troubled look as you. Upon the group's return any meaningful conversation you were having with your friend instantly devolves into superficial conversation and whining about trivial concerns.

Does this sound too familiar? I'll admit, this is a common occurrence for me. But why all this unnecessary drama caused by what seems like not realizing a few people were the center of the universe? I think the answer is so ingrained in all of us that we are many times blind to it--Erskine is a viciously complacent place. Think of all the trouble you would cause if you did something outside of the status quo; I mean omygosh what if you were a nerd and sat at the baseball table, and what if you were a soccer player and sat among one of the societies? The world would never be the same.

Eskine's little world wouldn't be the same if we all didn't feel so confined by cliques and the drama of our complacency. So, next time a friend of yours pitches a fit over something not being the way it always is, or next time you stand in moffat looking at your usual group and table full and are stuck standing because there are so many other open seats, but alas, they are beside people you don't talk to 5 times a day already, next time this happens do something. Tell your friend to grow up, sit by somebody you don't know as well, don't give in to the clique nature of Erskine.