It was 1943, the United States was at war, and the first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration opened on Broadway, where it went on to make theatrical history. The show was "Oklahoma!" and was said to be one of the first musicals whose songs carried the plot forward.

Whether or not the claim was valid hardly mattered. What did matter was that "Oklahoma!" with its immediately memorable score, was just what audiences needed, those who wanted to forget about the war for a few hours.

The Burn Brae Dinner Theater is currently doing the musical, and if you want to see what the shouting was about, get over there. The Burn Brae company is giving the show excellent treatment. All the leads are well cast, the dancing is smart and the score never sounded better, thanks to a very nice array of voices.

Lawrence Browning is Curly, the young man who loves Laurey. Teresa Payne-Rohan is Laurey, Rick Stohler is the hired hand who wants Laurey and will kill to get her, Phyllis Goldblatt is Aunt Eller, Michael Quinn is Will Parker, the young man who loves Ado Annie, Theresa Moroz is Annie, and Pat Anthony-Aleman is Ali Hakim, the Persian peddler who seduces one too many women.

A very nice cast, a terrific production and a pleasing buffet. Dinner theater fans need ask for no more.

"Oklahoma!" will remain at the Burn Brae through July 28.