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Lyrics - Oscar Hammerstein II
Opened - 1945
Main characters - Julie, Billy, Carrie, Enoch, Nettie, Jigger
Plot - Julie and Carrie are mill girls and they hang out at the carousel after work. Julie flirts with Billy, who works on the carousel, and the carousel owner fires him. Carrie tells Julie that she also has a man, a sardine fisherman called Enoch Snow. A couple of months later Julie and Billy are married, and Carrie and Enoch are engaged. But Julie is not happy because Billy is out of work and getting angry. A no good whaler, Jigger, asks Billy to carry out a robbery with him while everyone else goes to a clambake. He refuses at first, but changes his mind when Julie tells him she's pregnant. After the clambake Billy and Jigger go off to do the robbery, but they are foiled. Billy, seeing himself as a failure, decides to kill himself, just as the clambakers arrive. Julies cousin Nettie does her best to comfort Julie.
Up in heaven, Billy is taken back to earth by a 'Heavenly friend', with a star to give his now 15 year old daughter Louise, who is becoming a rebel like he was. She refuses the star at first but later, at her graduation, she accepts it and Billy is able to tell Julie that he loves her. He is then able to climb the stairs into heaven.
Songs (With marks out of 10) -
1.Carousel Waltz (10)
(Average - 9.29, Overall score - 206)
2.Mister Snow (10)
3.If I loved you (10)
4.June is bustin out all over (9)
5.When the children are asleep (9)
6.Blow high, blow low (8)
7.Soliloquy (10)
8.A real nice clambake (10)
9.Geraniums in the winder (7)
10.Stonecutters cut it on stone (7)
11.Whats the use of wond'rin' (10)
12.You'll never walk alone (10)
13.Ballet (10)
14.Finale (10)
Favourite song - If I loved you
Favourite character - Carrie
Favourite line -
"When I marry Mister Snow, the flowers will be buzzing with the hum of bees,
the birds will make a racket in the churchyard trees, when I marry Mister Snow.
Then it's off to home we'll go, and both of us will look a little dreary-eyed, driving
to a cottage by the ocean side, where the salty breezes blow."
- Carrie, day-dreaming of marrying Enoch, 'Mister Snow'
Comment - I bought Carousel following strong recommendations from a friend (Fran). It far exceeded my expectations when I listened to it, as it's different to Rodger's and Hammerstein's other musicals, and in my opinion easily their best. It's a very touching story, and the music is lovely all the way through. Carousel to me seems many years ahead of it's time, with a gorgeous sense of the atmosphere of the place. It's better than a ride on real carousel. (Well maybe) :)
UPDATE!
I have now been to see a production of Carousel, and it was a wonderful experience. It's the first time that a stage musical has brought tears to my eyes, and this happened twice. The first time was when Nettie sings 'You'll never walk alone', and then again when Billy was trying to tell Julie that he loves her. Julie was played by a 15 year old, and considering her age she did extremely well. Carrie was really bubbly, and very fun to watch. Billy was the best character, and handled his role perfectly. It was a high quality performance, the highlight of which was either 'June is bustin' out all over' or 'You'll never walk alone'. Here are the songs and how much I enjoyed them:
1.Carousel Waltz (10)
2.Mister Snow (10)
3.If I loved you (10)
4.June is bustin out all over (10)
5.When the children are asleep (9)
6.Blow high, blow low (9)
7.Soliloquy (10)
8.A real nice clambake (10)
9.Geraniums in the winder (7)
10.Whats the use of wond'rin' (10)
11.You'll never walk alone (10)
12.Billy's time in heaven(10)