Review of Rogers and Hammerstein’s vintage musical Carousel

 

On National Woman’s Day my frau and I headed off to see a production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical Carousel. The irony was not lost that this show has a plot line that turns on domestic violence.  Carousel is well over fifty years old and clearly the problem has not been vanquished.  However, we won’t dwell on the social context since what beckoned us to this show was our personal connections and the marvelous score.  Several of the songs have become pop standards over the years.  My wife also worked on the show as a Peoria High School girl some sixty years ago. She claims she still remembered most of the lyrics. And why not when they come from songs like June is Busting Out All Over, If I Loved You, A Real Nice Clambake, and You’ll Never Walk Alone.  My connection is that I had a minor role in college in a production of Ferenc Molnar’s 1908 Liliom, which was the play that the book of Carousel was based on. 

The show was sponsored by a Tucson non profit called Arts Express which has been doing musical productions for over thirty-five years.  They use both skilled  artists in the lead roles and talented young people and community actors to fill out their casts. According to the program their seasons attract over 20,000 patrons each year.  This was our first visit to this venue located on the west side of Tucson on the grounds of the Arizona School for the Dead and Blind.  The theatre was built in the 1990’s and has comfortable continental seating for about 500 people in 10 to 15 long curving rows. Visibility from all parts of the house was excellent. 

In terms of the production I can report that their leading actors are outstanding.  Andrew Gray, who played Billy Bigelow, has one of the biggest voices I have ever heard. Brianna Barnhart, as Julie Jordan, was also a skilled vocalist though without quite the bodily expressiveness as Mr. Gray.   The actors playing Jigger, Carrie Pipperedge, and Mrs. Mullin were also top notch.  The down level younger  players and dancers added to the affair with a full measure of joy, enthusiasm, and all out energy.  And there a fine pit orchestra. 

It was unfortunate that the technical elements did not hold up to the performance. The lighting was uninspired, the costumes were serviceable but not jumping out at you, there were directional issues in the miking of performers, and the scenic elements were minimal.  Part of this may have been lack of facilities in the venue or budget limitations or both.  It was apparent, for instance, that there was an absence of a fly system, which caused all the minimal scenery to be rolled on with wagons. There also was a limited number of modern color changing lighting instruments and only a single follow spot when two would be the absolute minimum for coverage of the duets and dances.

In sum though, any time we can see a true blend of professional experienced actors and a host of young players, I am ready to shout approval.  We enjoyed this old chestnut immensely.  

Jim De Young