Rodgers and Hammerstein II’s classic 1945 musical
Carousel is making a grand revival at London’s Savoy Theatre from November 2008. The celebrated production tells the tale of two lovers, one the carousel worker Billy Bigelow and the other a local millworker Julie Jordan. Their relationship is instantly frowned upon and they are fired from their jobs. This sets things in motion as they struggle to earn enough money to support the child they are going to have. Along the way they live with Julie’s mother Nettie, who in this production is played by acclaimed British sopranoLesley Garrett. The play is well known for its musical numbers such as
Carousel Waltz,
June is Bustin’ Out and the classic
You’ll Never Walk Alone.
The musical’s backdrop is 1870s New England, (originally Budapest in the Ferenc Molnar play on which it is based). This industrialised location is the perfect setting for this love affair which brings about much despair. As Billy and June struggle to earn money to sustain their lives and the life of the future child, Billy turns to crime and it is through this that he takes part in a robbery attempt. This goes badly wrong and cornered by the police, Billy decides to take his own life.
And so the play takes a dramatic twist as Billy finds himself at the gate of Heaven, told he cannot enter until he makes amends for all of the misery his suicide has caused. He is sent back fifteen years after his death where he attempts to put things right, particularly with the daughter he never saw.
Carousel first debuted on Broadway in 1945 and made its first West End appearance in 1950 at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical was applauded as an instant classic. Today’s revival is thanks to Kim Poster of Stanhope Productions Ltd and director Lindsay Posner, who have brought the production to the Savoy Theatre in London, starring Jeremiah James as Billy Bigalow, Alexandra Silber as Julie Jordan and of course Lesley Garrett as the memorable Nettie.
Poster and Posner previously brought you the 2007 production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Savoy Theatre, whilst Lindsay Posner previous credits include Fool For Love, The Birthday Party and The Hypochondriac.