THIS brand new revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic kicked off with all guns blazing at the Pavilion Theatre.

Still in the rehearsal stage only days ago, it is hard to believe this slick, polished production is at the very start of its UK tour.

West End star Marti Webb heads an all-round spectacular cast as the matriarchal Aunt Eller and her star quality seems to have rubbed off on the bright young talent around her.

Mark Evans – who TV viewers will remember as the runner-up on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s show Your Country Needs You – ticked all the right boxes as happy-go-lucky cowboy Curley. Vocally he was an absolute delight from the moment he opened the show with the rousing Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’.

His love interest Laurey – played by Gemma Sutton – had an exquisite voice too.

The show is packed with unforgettable songs – The Surrey With the Fringe on Top, People Will Say We’re In Love, Many a New Day, I Cain’t Say No and the roof-raising Oklahoma, but it has more than a sumptuous, soaring score to enthrall us.

Like the very best musicals it strikes just the right mix of song, dance and story with brilliantly drawn characters.

It’s a simple and often comedic story about farm girl Laurey and her two love rivals, the affable, caring Curly and the seriously sinister farm hand Jud, portrayed so menacingly by the brooding Pete Gallagher.

But set on America’s Western Frontier in 1907, against a background of conflict between farmers and cattlemen, it has its social history too.

The sets, the costumes and the fabulously choreographed dance routines- especially Laurey’s breathtaking ensemble dream scene, rival any West End show. Be sure not to miss it!