What does it really mean to be an ingenue?

I went to see a rehearsal for Oklahoma! the other night. Community theatre.

The only thing I'll say about the orchestra is that they are using an electric bass - that, to me, says it all.

Why do today's directors and leading ladies insist on playing Laurey as a hard ass? Why would any male in the audience think that Curly would be attracted to a rough, masculine girl, unless this were Oklahoma Meets Broke Back Mountain!? There seems to be a reluctance to allow Laurey to be sweet and feminine, you know, like a girl; as if sweet and feminine equates to being naive, helpless, weak, male-dependent. It doesn't. And when you add to the fact that Laurey is an ingenue, you realize that she can't, by definition of the word, be weak and helpless. Look it up!

I'm going to say it: Shirley Jones nailed it in the movie version. Her Laurey is all woman (boy, is she ever!), and she has a will of her own. But, by having a will of her own, Laurey doesn't have to be played as a she-male. So, let's all just relax and allow independent Laurey to have the grace and beauty that any burly heterosexual would fall for, okay? Good lord, in the couple of productions I've seen lately, Laurey was so gruff that even a real, live Jud wouldn't look twice.