“Memory…I can smile at the old days. I was beautiful then.” (Cats, 1981, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Composer)

In the Classic Movie Musical there is beauty everywhere.  This month, we find it in the “bright golden haze on the meadow” and in the pretty face of the “Belle of Claremore”.

Welcome to the May 2018 Edition ~ OKLAHOMA! 

It may be the pastoral beauty of this film that draws us in (the wide sunny vista, the meadow, the corn), but it is the voices (Gordon Macrae, Shirley, Jones) singing classic Rogers and Hammerstein songs, (Oh What A Beautiful Morning, People Will Say We’re in Love, The Surrey the Fringe on Top) and the classic story of boy meets girl that make us stay.  Stay to sing-a-long, tell our own stories and reminisce.

Remember, reminiscence has no age or generation limitation. It is a powerful tool that can promote communication, engagement, introspection and inference in all ages and many different stages.

Oklahoma! is filled to the brim with opportunities to reminisce, particularly when it comes to stories of relationships and dating or as it was once called, courtship. Courtship is defined as “a period during which a couple develop a romantic relationship, especially with a view to marriage.”  The joys and hardships of that period are well illustrated here.

Courtship as a theme is universal in the movie musical.  It is a great discussion topic for your older generation clientele, intergenerational family members, and your students.

For Curley and Laurey, courtship includes   fighting and flirting.  When Curley “makes up a few purities” about The Surrey with the Fringe on Top is that a form of flirting?  When they sing: “Don’t start collecting things, give me my rose and my glove, sweetheart they’re suspecting things, people will say we’re in love. “Grant your wish I carved our initials on that tree.”  Is that a form of flirting?

Are their fights a form of flirtation?  ("Git on outta here! Tellin' me lies!") Why? or Why not?

As you examine these questions for the characters, now may be a good time to include some thought provoking questions for your group members:

What was courtship like for the older generation?

What was considered flirtatious?   Was it welcomed?

Does flirtation have a place in modern day romance?

What are the similarities/differences in dating practices?

If Laurey likes Curley, what motivates her to act the way she does in the early stage of the relationship?

What are Curley’s motives? Is he interested only in the chase?

As the story progresses from flirtation to courting, as seen when Curly “bids” for Laurey’s affection against Judd the farmhand, (masked nicely in film as a bid for her picnic basket), we can move to a series of thought provoking questions about popularity.

For the Older Generation:

Were you popular?

Did you have many boyfriends?

What did you think of Grandpa/Grandma?

What was your first date like?

For Students:

Is Laurey popular?

What motivates Laurey to consider going to the Box Social with Judd?

Is she aware of her effect on these men?

Is rivalry a natural part of a relationship if you are popular/smart?

If you are popular are others naturally jealous of you?

As the courtship moves from dating to marriage spend some time with your older generation clients and intergenerational family members reminiscing about the proposal, the wedding, the dress, the ceremony. Some great insights are bound to come forth.

When discussing the question of marriage with students discuss the timing of marriage and the responsibilities of commitment.

Flirting, fighting, courtship, commitment, all things that mold relationships and fill us with memories that “can live again” through Movies and Music

~Lori

References: Yauch, L (1st May 2014). Invitation to Spring in OKLAHOMA! {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (6th May 2015). Spring Party in OKLAHOMA! {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Google Definitions: Courtship (6 May 2018) Retrieved from Google.com