Green Grow the Lilacs: A Play

by Lynn Riggs

This evocative play charting the rocky romance between headstrong farmgirl Laurey and cocky cowhand Curley in a tale of early America during the settlement of the Midwest was the basis of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! Using the colorful vernacular of the period, Green Grow the Lilacs paints a picture of pioneer farm life with colorful characters and language, presenting a dramatic challenge to professionals and amateurs alike.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Classics, Drama, School, Theatre, Historical Fiction

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1931

About the author

Rollie Lynn Riggs (August 31, 1899 – June 30, 1954) wrote 21 full-length plays, several short stories, poems, and a television script.

The Theatre Guild produced his most well-known play, Green Grow The Lilacs, on Broadway in 1931, where it ran for 64 performances. The musical Oklahoma!, based on Riggs' play, opened on Broadway on March 31, 1943, and ran until May 29, 1948 for 2,212 performances.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play written by native American and Oklahoman, Lynn Riggs in 1930 and was the basis for the musical and later movie, Oklahoma!. The entire play is full of songs from the era.

Some I recognized, like Git Along Little Dogies (which is also a movie), most of the rest I had to look up including the title song, Green Grow the Lilacs. Some I could find, others, not.

I LOVED this! Riggs used the vernacular of the time, and you can still hear some of that twang in Okie talk today. It isn't Texan, Southern or Kentucky mountain drawl, but a dialect all its own. I am not sure, but this may be one of the few pieces of period literature to have preserved the true talk of ordinary folks from that time.

The story centers around cocky cowhand Curley who is head-over-heels crazy about the beautiful farmgirl Laurey, who seems to put him off for some unknown reason. But Laurey's Aunt Eller is wiser than her niece, who lives with her since her parents' deaths. Aunt Eller sees her way to helping Curley achieve his goal of marriage to Laurey. There is also the mysterious figure of Jeeter who works on Aunt Eller's farm and has his own dark desires and history. Also, a lightweight friend of Laurey's named Ado Annie who adds some levity.

Have you heard of a shivoree (sic)? I suppose that was the Okie spelling of the day. A shivaree is a noisy mock serenade to a newly married couple, which can be all in fun or not, depending on many different circumstances, most especially who does them, to whom and with what motive.

The story parallels the musical somewhat, but it is better, IMHO. I would still like to go back and watch the movie, Oklahoma! again and/or read the screenplay as it has been a while.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some pros and cons to knowing Oklahoma! backwards and forward when it comes to reading the original source material. The text is easier to understand since I can hear voices in my head saying some of the lines, but then when something different happens than R&H decided to go for, it's disconcerting. There are a few parts that come through better the way Lynn Riggs (who I discovered was not a groundbreaking female playwright, but a dude) created them, but honestly, I think Hammerstein really improved upon the original. It was worth reading, but I think I'd rather just watch the musical.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s fine. I read this because it’s the source material for Oklahoma!

[Sabra Kurth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Oklahoma, this play was good, the musical, Oklahoma was better.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say just go watch Oklahoma, but the original plays does have some really interesting themes that the musical doesn’t quite capture.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Academically interesting if you’re a fan of Oklahoma!… but otherwise pretty terrible.

[Cammy]

This was kind of interesting. I think that men are bad and make things worse and that's the theme of this.

[Kiely Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

yk what. hell ya aunt eller.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting that it was a musical... with traditional songs. I suppose fresh songs by a popular team was a big selling point. I think that the play makes more sense, in general, too, but I do have to admit I've only seen the musical once. I just wish I understood what exactly was so terrible about the shivaree. And did the men who basically got Curly in trouble because of their practical joke just run away from him? Anyway, best character is Aunt Eller. And biggest loss (from the movie) is the diminution of the character of Ado Annie.

[rhagan ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for some required reading before my next contract!! it’s just a little outdated hahah!! it inspired Oklahoma! the musical was is so cool to see the similarities, but in my opinion it isn’t as developed as what came from it. we just focused on different things in this original version versus what the musical developed! i do really love how in depth the stage directions and description were!! it got very character heavy, especially the first half, and not much about the plot, so it felt a little rushed in terms of events. but i did love seeing lore of aunt eller and laurey together!!!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for FYS 119 The Great American Musical

I really liked this. I am reading Oklahoma! next, so we will see how they compare. I liked reading in the dialect. The plot was a little heavy in the second half, but such is a play.

[Olivia C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real rating is 3.5 stars

[Anna Kluesner-Marquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this bc it’s the source material for one of my fav musicals- not horrific but definitely does not stand the test of time

[Amy]

Yikes.

[The_J · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Certainly captured the zeitgeist of the era, but just not my era or zeitgeist. Accept for a slice of nigh frontier life, and find the next work.

[Silas Allen]

Fun!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm kind of obsessed with the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that was based on this play, so it was only natural that I should read it. Truthfully, the only differences I noticed between the two were Ado Annie's personality (she's more of a dull moron in this, instead of a loopy flirt) and the fact that Jeeter Fry's name was changed to Jud in the musical. There were lots of songs in this, which I found interesting. In the play, Jeeter's personality is a LOT more dark and creepy. A whole lot.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd little duck of a play written in a charming, genuine dialect and voice. I wish the ladies had more going on here because they're great characters; I assume that's why Oscar Hammerstein gives them more to do. Definitely an interesting read for musical theatre fans, especially to see how Hammerstein translated the bucolic stage directions into legendary lyrics.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made my Okie heart swell to experience the inspiration for our state's titular musical. And also left me scratching my head as to Mr. Hammerstein's book credit for the musical, as he's lifted the bulk of Mr. Riggs' dialogue verbatim, and just replaced his whimsical yet not particularly plot-enhancing folk songs with R&H's own. Who knew?!

[Sophie Cordell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main takeaway is that it really sucked to be a woman back then! Lots of slurs too wow!