A COMFORTABLE RETURN TRIP TO 'OKLAHOMA!'.

Byline: - Evan Henerson

CAN MUSICAL theater - like clothing or home decor - be retro? Fashionably unfashionable? If so, then Rodgers and Hammerstein's ``Oklahoma'' figures to be A-OK for quite some time.

It's no mean feat to trump a show where - odds are - you will recognize just about every song in the score. A person risks leaving the Pantages Theatre with lyrics like ``Never have I wept into my tea over a deal someone doled me'' rattling around in his cerebellum like some kind of a tuneful tumor.

The touring ``Oklahoma!'' - which makes use of nonunion actors and musicians - is energetically staged by Fred Hanson, who re-creates Trevor Nunn's original direction. Julie Burdick is a knockout as ranching belle Laurey, who inflames the heart of scuzzy Jud Fry (Andrew Lebon) and handsome cowboy Curly (Jeremiah Janes). Tomboyishly glamorous in her overalls, Burdick sings sweetly and spars ably. And, as advertised, she dances Ginger Thatcher's dream ballet, usually performed by a ballerina double.

``Oklahoma!'' contains probably the dopiest book and plot in musical-theater history. When the music kicks in, however, it's easy to get swept into that all that corn - whether it's ``as high as an elephant's eye,'' or otherwise.

OKLAHOMA! - Three stars

Where: Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; through Jan. 30.

Tickets: $42.50 to $67.50. [phone].

In a nutshell: Not exactly a hip show, but still a boot-stompin' lark.