Carousel
Turtle Lane's second production is Rodgers and Hammerstein's
"Carousel". Based on Ferenc Molnar's play "Liliom", "Carousel" takes
place between 1873 and 1888 in a small New England fishing village in
Maine. The tale revolves around a Billy Bigelow, a carnival man, and Julie
Jordan, a local factory worker. They end up getting married and after
learning he is to become a father, Billy kills himself after a botched
robbery. Several years later he is allowed to return to earth for a short
time to redeem himself and help his daughter and Julie recover from the
stigma of his death. The original show opened on April 19, 1945 and ran
for 890 performances, winning 8 Donaldson Awards and the Drama Critics
Circle Award for "Best Musical" of 1945. The 1994 revival won 5 Tony
Awards and in 1999, TIME MAGAZINE voted "Carousel" the best musical of the
century. The 1956 movie version starred Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones as
Billy and Julie. Director Russell Greene casts each role beautifully in
this very emotionally moving and well written musical.
Russell's casting and blocking of this show is right on the money. I
last reviewed Russell as a director in last year's fall show, "Into
the Woods. The pantomime opening segment done to the Carousel Waltz
with the crowd at the carnival, the girls at the factory and the
starkeeper's area stage left lets the audience know what is
happening in Maine. The carnival section is breath taking with
professional magician, Derek Raposo (he also dances wonderfully as the
cad, carnival barker on the beach with Louise) doing some
excellent magic tricks. The scene lets you know what is happening without
any dialogue. The voices in this show are some of the best ones around and
music director Wayne Ward, elicits the power needed from the cast for
these numbers. He not only musically directs the show but plays piano
and conducts his five piece orchestra. They are topnotch,
helping to set the mood for many poignant moments in the show.
Choreographer Christopher Hird creates many dances including the
ballet segment of Louise on the beach, the boys and girls dancing in "June
is Busting Out" and a hornpipe dance to "Blow High, Blow Low" with all
dancers in perfect unison at all times. He is the artistic coordinator of
Boston Ballet School and has "The Nutcracker" opening there soon. The
ballet segment is fantastic with Gillian Gordon, doing topnotch
dancing and she is also an astounding actress who elicts
tears from the audience in her scene with Billy. The multitude of
gorgeous 19th century costumes are by Richard Itczak with the sets and
lighting by John MacKenzie and sound by Alex Savitzky. The scenery is
painted by his wife, Michelle Boll, the scenic artist with some
outstanding slides of the Maine seashore with a lighthouse on it as well
as a beach scene. Stage manager James Tallach keeps things running
smoothly all night long with the scene changes and scenery with the horses
for the carousel, moving on and off stage with ease.
The two leads in this show are multitalented performers who shine in
their numbers. The handsome and debonair Nicholas Howe's strong baritone
voice is splendid and soars off the charts in "If I Loved You" (my
favorite R&H song) "The Highest Judge of All" and "The Soliloquy". The
first is where Billy and Julie refuse to admit their love for each
other, the second is after he dies and demands to be judged by the
Lord and the last one is his outlook on his future son or daughter. The
latter one stops the show with its intensity. At the end of Act 1 he
threatens the audience with a knife to emphasize that he will be taking
care of his child. Rodgers music in these numbers can't be
beat. Nicholas also gives strength to his acting scenes, capturing the
swagger and charm of a womanizing, man with a wanderlust in his soul who
finally reforms to help his wife and daughter have hope to live their
lives to their fullest. His death scene and his scenes with Louise and
Julie in the yard and at graduation are very touching and moving as he
helps them cope with their future now that he is gone.
Russell's staging of the graduation scene has Nicholas center stage,
Gillian on stage right and Julianne stage left all in a spotlights
while they sing "Never Walk Alone" with the chorus, which makes the
audience cry harder than ever. (Christopher also has Nicholas show off his
dancing skills in the hornpipe dance in Act 1) Gorgeous blond
haired Julianne Richards is splendid as Julie. Her magnificent
soprano voice fills the theatre with "If I Loved You" and "What's the Use
of Wondering'' where she says it doesn't matter whether your man is good
or bad you will love him anyway. Julianne makes the transition from naive
girl into older wiser woman with ease and she just uses her facial
expression to make you cry when she finds the star that Billy left on
the bench while he sings the tear jerking reprise of "If I Loved You"
where he finally admits he loves her. She admits her love for Billy during
his death scene and starts to sing "Never Walk Alone" until she
breaks down in tears. An awesome and well cast pair of performers who
deliver the goods from the start to the end of the show.
Margaret McCarty does a spectacular job as Nettie. She bursts on
the scene, to welcome summer to Maine with the exuberant "June Is Busting
Out" with her glorious soprano voice and does a comic turn in "A Real
Nice Clambake" where she tells about all the food everyone consumed at the
picnic. Margaret also tugs at your heartstrings with "You'll Never Walk
Alone" where she comforts Julie after Billy's death. Heather
Karwowski, a statuesque brunette, does a great job as Carrie,
Julie's not too bright friend who loves a stuffed shirt herring fisherman,
Enoch Snow played to the hilt by Craig
McKerley. Heather gets to sing "Mister Snow", during the reprise
of the song, she shows off her dancing skills with the girls while
she sings the duet "When the Children Are Asleep" with Craig. She has
a lovely soprano voice while Craig has a strong Irish tenor voice. He
sings the mournful "Geraniums in the Window" when he thinks Carrie has
cheated on him with Jigger. They get to lighten up the show with
their comic antics as does Kara Dunne as Mrs. Mullen. She is the
owner of the Carnival who lusts after Billy and she argues with
Julie,Carrie, Billy and Jigger, shooting off insults at a quick pace. Kara
also plays the second heavenly friend in the second act.The villain of the
show Jigger is played by Ryan Garvin. He oozes his oily, slick
charm when he convinces Billy to commit the robbery, tries to kiss Carrie
and then he cheats Billy at cards. Ryan leads the men in "Blow High, Blow
Low" and "Stonecutters Cut it on Stone". The dancers are lead
by Gillian Gordon as Louise who captures the pathos of the mixed up
daughter wonderfully. Joshua Hamilton plays the Starkeeper and Mr.
Bascombe with a perfect Maine accent, Gabriel Fries is the first heavenly
friend who guides Billy back to earth and Evan O'Connor plays the snooty
Enoch Snow Jr.. Kudos to everyone who make this a fantastic show. So for
an excellent rendition of a classical musical, be sure to catch "Carousel"
at Turtle Lane Playhouse.
CAROUSEL (20 November to 6 December &
27 to 30 December, 2009)
Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose Street,
Auburndale,MA
1 (617) 244-0169 or www.turtlelane.org