Carousel

It is longer than I care to remember since I last saw this show staged but its music charmed as ever. The storyline concerned a carousel barker Billy Bigelow being intrigued by and marrying the matter of fact mill girl Julie Jordan whose revelation of their pregnancy led to his need to provide for the child -which was the trigger for Billy going along with a whaler’s half baked plan of robbery and murder in which he lost his life. The cast delivered this storyline with clarity and commitment. The opening scene at the fair, cleverly included the factory girls at work and the audience savoured the well known songs in the overture. Lorna Stevens in the leading role of Julie brought out both the independent mindedness that so attracted Billy and the determined loyalty to him despite his faults. Her voice was clear and controlled. In the beautifully articulated duet If I Loved You with Billy, the audience was treated to some wonderful singing from both. Freddy Bowen-Bates as Billy showed his dramatic range of voice and presence for this difficult role, engaging and impressing in The Soliloquy and The Highest Judge of All. He delivered Billy’s impetuous nature letting us see his frustration at every well meant action turning out badly. The light hearted sides of young life and later marriage were well presented by Emma Fraser as Carrie Pipperidge. Confidently, she handled well her romantic idealism for Mr Snow turning to a later worldliness. Her enthusiasm in singing Mr Snow and her comic innocence in Jigger’s intended seduction were infectious. Brian McKay brought out the sleekit menace of the smooth tongued Jigger. His cheerful lead in singing Blow High Blow Low and Stonecutters Cut It On Stone blinded some folks to his evil intentions, signified to us by his caressing of his knife. The more optimistic side of life is presented by Angela Dickinson in the role of Netty Fowler. She caught the busy, common sense nature of Nettie in the explanation of the effects of early summer in June is Bustin’ Out All Over, in the organisation of the picnic and also in compassion as she treated us to the well sung and emotional You’ll Never Walk Alone. Other principals presented capably such as John Isgrove as the strait-laced Enoch Snow and Charlotte Wood as the envious and vindictive carousel owner Mrs Mullins. In minor roles, The Star Keeper, Grant Webb, and The Heavenly Friend, Richard Underwood, always difficult roles to believe in, carried them off creditably as did the youngsters Bethan Jones as Louise Bigelow and Lewis Munro as Enoch Junior. The chorus numbers such as June is Bustin Out All Over, A Real Nice Clambake and You’ll Never Walk Alone in the finale roused and satisfied. The backdrops to scenes and changes of scene all happened smoothly. This is an emotional and fascinating show and the company are to be congratulated on bringing it to life. Well done to all.

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