The corn is as high as an elephant's eye, and the corn pone is as thick as grandma's favorite recipe in Arizona Theatre Company's Oklahoma! co-produced with the Phoenix Symphony. Directed by Broadway veteran Vivian Matalon, the overly twangy accents used in this show make auto dealer Jim Click sound like a Shakesperean actor.

Click is Tucson's most famous Oklahoman and a proud supporter of this special project specifically designed to bring families into the theater. Last night's performance proved the project is a terrific idea worthy of becoming an annual event.

The appeal of these fun shows should especially encourage audiences for Southern Arizona Light Opera Company, which every season produces four classic musicals of similar quality to this one.

In fact, Marsha Bagwell, finishing her graduate degree in theater at the University of Arizona, was the strongest in a cast filled with Broadway experience. Bagwell played the irascible Aunt Eller, giving another of the vein-popping performances that have made her a favorite in UA productions the past two years.

Matalon has worked in a number of subtle ways to give this 1943 evergreen less of a sexist tone. Aunt Eller comes out on top as the person who calls all the shots on the farm. Becky Watson as Laurey, the traditional sweet farm girl, also seems more feisty. More like the sort of woman who could survive the heat waves, dust bowls and tornados of this harsh land.

Curly, the usual center of attention, is played by Jeff Stafford. He comes off more like the bulky guy who was a family member of "The Beverly Hillbillies" on TV. For some reason, Matalon has chosen to make the dramatic heart of this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical - the dark confrontation between Curly and Jud (Michael Gruber) - play like something in "Lil Abner."

But since the whole show goes that way, including lots of knee-slapping cowboy choreography by Joey McKneely, the "Boy, howdy" approach seems to fit. Sort of.

As befits a show with a reported budget of more than $750,000, the production values are excellent. Songs include "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornning", "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top", "People Will Say We're In Love", "Kansas City" and "I Cain't Say No".