Submitted by Dee Anne Shaw
Aberdeen High School’s production of Oklahoma!, the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, opens Friday and thanks to Doug and Janet Rice of Montesano, a real “surrey with a fringe on top” will take the stage, too.
“The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” is the second song in the musical when Curly tries to persuade Laurey to attend the box social with him. It plays an important role at the end.
“At one point, we thought we weren’t going to have a surrey at all,” Director Tamara Helland said, explaining she was making plans for a work-around.
Enter Doug and Janet Rice. They have loaned the surrey from their private collection to the high school for the upcoming performances Friday through Sunday, Nov. 20-22. It was carefully moved into the Auditorium over the weekend, just in time for dress rehearsals this week.
“I am so grateful. The surrey is amazing and it’s more than I ever could have asked for,” Helland said.
The Rices’ surrey is part of a collection of restored carriages, sleighs and wagons the couple maintains at the Running Anvil Ranch outside of Montesano. It was once owned by the Twidwells, who homesteaded on the Lower Satsop Valley.
The surrey fell into disuse and in 1962, according to the Rices, Dr. Don “Doc” Mustard accepted it in trade for veterinary services. It was stored in various barns and had a couple of different owners until 2004 when Doug Rice bought it and set about restoring it. Larry Foss of Montesano was brought in to paint it, Butch Hannukaine of Olympia for the striping, Herman Hurt for the top, liner and upholstery, and Moscow Carriage helped with the wheel work. The patent leather fenders and dash are from the Amish of Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
The fringe on top was hand tied by the Rices’ granddaughter, Keela. She helped tie tassels whenever she came out to ride, her grandmother says.
Doug and Janet Rice are happy to schedule tours of their collection. Almost all have ties to local history and were once actively in use on Grays Harbor. They can be reached at (360) 249-3645.
More than 50 students are involved in AHS’ production of Oklahoma! The set was built by students in Corey Martinsen’s construction class, Director Helland notes, and the music pit is comprised of students playing under the direction of Daniel Patterson.
Curly is played by Michael Fagerstedt, who last spring was named the top high school baritone in the state, and Laurey is played by Courtney Glenn. The production also stars Analei Holt as Aunt Eller, Garrett Tageant as Jud Fry, Madison Lougheed as Ado Annie, Christian Walters as Will Parker, Alex Seta as Ali Hakim, Gordon Shaw as Carnes and Michaela Leach as Gertie. Rounding out the cast are Jack White, Parris Nicholson, Ben Fagerstedt, Destiny Blake, Kathryn Weidman, Kendall Cavin, Marissa Wagner, Sierra Templeton, Magin Chesley, Mercy Johnson, Rachel Wiechelman, Madi Niemi, Jade Craig, Hannah Mareth, Brooke Solan, Solace Johnson, Emily Cushing, Kaylan Fretheim, Olivia Nicholson, Rachel Tageant, and Chawndra Hicks.
Tickets are on sale at Aberdeen High School, Harbor Shoes in Aberdeen and Harbor Drug in Hoquiam. Prices are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Three performances are planned: 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20-21, and at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.
