THEATER REVIEWS : ‘Oklahoma!’ Loses Frontier Spirit : The Saddleback production emphasizes the musical’s charm at the expense of its energy.

Few remember that before it opened on Broadway, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” was called “Away We Go!” A bad title, but apt for the rousing spirit of the show and an invitation to the era of serious musical drama it helped innovate.

It’s still a bang-up entertainment but, except for some sparkling performances, little of that innovative quality has been captured in this Saddleback Community College Summer Stock production.

Director-choreographer Susan Errickson has opted to emphasize the cuteness and charm of the piece rather than the unbounded frontier energy and frequent slightly hard edge that are core strengths of “Oklahoma!”

It’s a masculine show, and even its female characters show the result of a hard life on an almost barren prairie. Errickson sees everything here through rose-colored glasses; even the backdrops in Wally Huntoon’s settings look more like the cool rolling hills of southern Minnesota than the flat prairie of Oklahoma, cattle country where farmers are just beginning to scratch out a living.

Agnes de Mille’s original choreography--watered down here by the director--was also powerful and raw. Maybe Errickson toned it down to accommodate her dancers, who look inexperienced, even though they are sometimes together.

Lee Kreter’s musical direction follows suit. His orchestra has a Muzak sound, with none of the raw bones and fire the score needs. Slightly sluggish tempos are not the big problem; lack of pizazz is.

The production is almost saved by some of the performances. Dink O’Neal’s Curly is robust, and his sense of humor is just right. His strong baritone has a clarity and patina that would be at home on any musical stage.

The lovely, amber-toned soprano of Rita Baretta couldn’t be better for Curly’s reluctant Laurey. They’re a fine romantic pairing looking for prairie dust and a little reality to frame them better.

Jud Fry’s “Lonely Room” is the musical’s most powerful moment, and it becomes this production’s high point through the performance of Torb Pedersen as Jud.

Although Pedersen doesn’t find many shadings in Jud’s character--that’s really the fault of Hammerstein’s writing--his powerful solo is heartbreaking and memorable.

Also notable is the brash, exuberant Will Parker of Joshua Carr, who is very funny and should have more dancing to do; his energy and concentration might spread throughout the cast.

Margie King is a good, sort of homespun Aunt Eller, and Amy Christian a sometimes funny Ado Annie, although she, too, makes the mistake of opting for too much cuteness. Dale Jones’ comic turn as peddler Ali Hakim is expert, and his timing is on target.

* “Oklahoma!,” McKinney Theatre, Saddleback Community College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viego. July 15-17 and 21-24, 8 p.m.; July 17-18, 24-25, 3 p.m. $12-$14. (714) 582-4656. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes. Dink O’Neal: Curly

Rita Baretta: Laurey

Torb Pedersen: Jud Fry

Joshua Carr: Will Parker

Amy Christian: Ado Annie Carnes

Margie King: Aunt Eller

Dale Jones; Ali Hakim

Susan Crouse: Gertie Cummings

Curtis Pope: Andrew Carnes

A Saddleback Community College Summer Stock production. Music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on Lynn Riggs’ play “Green Grow the Lilacs.” Directed and choreographed by Susan Errickson. Musical director: Lee Kreter. Settings: Wally Huntoon. Costumes: Charles Castagno. Lighting and sound: Kevin Cook.