East Kilbride Light Opera Club

Carousel - 1991

Index

History

Carousel 1991 - Synopsis

cover of programme On a fairground in New England in May, 1873, there was a carousel, a most popular attraction, particularly with the girls. The reason was not hard to find. The barker for this carousel was an exceedingly attractive young man, one Billy Bigelow, whose employer is Mrs. Mullin, a widow with obvious intentions of installing Billy as a substitute for her dear departed husband.

As our play opens, Carrie Pipperidge and Julie Jordan come to the fair. Julie and Billy fall in love at first sight. Mrs. Mullin interferes but Billy defies her and is discharged. Carrie, affianced to Enoch Snow, a smug and ambitious fisherman, reminds Julie that unless they return immediately to the mill they will lose their jobs. Julie, completely captivated, stays behind, loses her job and marries Billy. They go to live with Nettie Fowler, a kindly relative of Julie's, but the marriage is not a great success. Billy, still jobless, falls into the clutches of Jigger Craigin, a water-front crook who plans to rob Mr. Bascombe of several thousand dollars, and needs an accomplice. Billy learns he is about to become a father, and, needing money, agrees to help Jigger. The robbery misfires, as Mr. Bascombe is armed. Jigger escapes, but Billy is held at the point of a pistol, and, to avoid arrest, he stabs himself. Julie arrives just in time to see him die.

At this point a "stranger" arrives to guide Billy to the other world. There he finds himself in a strange place which he is told is the backyard of Heaven. He has done nothing in his life to justify entering by the Main Gate, and is given the chance of returning to Earth for one day, to do even one good thing that will be a credit to him "up there."

He learns that much time has passed and that his child, a girl, is now fifteen years old. He is given a glimpse of her and learns that she is shunned by all the other children because of the memory of her father. Billy, at last contrite, gets back to Earth for one day.

On Graduation Day at the school, the local Doctor in his prize-giving speech, gives good advice on how to be brave in adversity, and Billy, invisibly present near his daughter, counsels her to follow this advice.

Billy stays long enough to see his little girl at last accepted into the fellowship of her colleagues, and he and his "heavenly friend" walk off to the other world, Billy at last having earned his right to enter by the Front Entrance.

Carousel - 1991
by permission of Josef Weinberger on behalf of Rodgers and Hammerstein Music Library

Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on Ferenc Molnar's "Lilliom" as adapted by Benjamin F. Glaser

Production Team
Producer - Jack Tait (assisted by S. Gordon Lang)
Musical Director - S. Gordon Lang
Choreographer - Margaret Hay

Cast
Carrie Pipperidge - Claire Johnston
Julie Jordan - Kate Schwab
Mrs. Mullin - Barbara McElroy
Billy Bigalow - Douglas Muir
Policeman - Bill Ginn
David Bascombe - Peter King
Nettie Fowler - Norma Fingland
Enoch Snow - Bill Walker
Jigger Craigin - Tom Johnston
Captain - Bill Struthers
Heavenly Friend - Ken Lawton
Star Keeeper - Edward Peirce
Louise - Dawn Smith
Carnival Boy - Craig Allan
Enoch Snow Jnr - Robert Kirkham
Doctor Seldon - Edward Pierce

The Snow Children
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Matinee Fiona Arthur, Karen Arthur, Susan Bedford, Claire Mathieson, Lisa McTaggart, Carina Moscardini, Gino Moscardini. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Evening Paul Crowe, Martin Hughes, Geraldine King, Maureen King, Pauline King, Alison Russell, Nicola Watson.

Ladies of the Chorus
Hazel Armstrong, Diane Ballantine, Alison Bennet, Elizabeth Conroy. Gillian Dunker, Carol Edison, Anneliese Gannon, Wendy Hayes, Shona Jenkins, Anne Kennedy, Betty MacAulay, Rona MacGregor, Margot McTaggart, Marylin Maxwell, Pauline Moscardini, Elizabeth Rennie. Jacqueline Robb, Anne Serafini, Elizabeth Sorbie, Linda Watson.

Gentlemen of the Chorus
Craig Allan, Bruce Arthur, John Cannon, lan Conroy, Robbie Crawford. Bill Crudge, Simon Dunkley, Bill Ginn, Bruce Griffin, Robert Kirkham. Jim Kirkpatrick, Robert McDermott, Jim Maxwell, Jason Munro. Edward Peirce, Martin Russell, Harry Sheridan, Bill Struthers.

Dancers
Morag Arthur, Dorothy Bedford, Gillian Dickson, Lori McElroy. Sandra Mooney, Linda Raeburn, Dawn Smith, Gael Smith.

Performance Details
25th February - 2nd March
The Village Theatre,
East Kilbride

Synopsis of Scenes

Time 1873-1888

Act I
Scene 1 Prelude; An amusement park on the New England coast. May.
Scene 2 A tree lined path along the shore. A few minutes later.
Scene 3 Nettie Fowler's Spa on the ocean front. June.

Act II
Scene 1: On an island across the bay. That night.
Scene 2: Mainland water front. An hour later.
Scene 3: "Up there".
Scene 4: "Down here" on a beach. Fifteen years later.
Scene 5: Outside Julie's cottage.
Scene 6: Outside a schoolhouse. Same day.

Musical Synopsis

Act I
Waltz Suite: "Carousel"
"You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan" - Carrie and Julie
"When I Marry Mr. Snow" - Carrie
"If I Loved You" - Billy and Julie
"June is Bustin' Out All Over" - Nettie, Carrie, Chorus and Dancers
Reprise: "When I Marry Mr. Snow" - Carrie, Mr Snow and Girls
"When the Children Are Asleep" - Mr. Snow and Carrie
"Blow High, Blow Low" - Jigger, Billy and Men
Hornpipe - Dancers
Soliloquy - Billy
Finale - Company

Act II
"This Was a Real Nice Clambake" - Chorus
"Geraniums in the Winder" - Mr. Snow, Jigger and Chorus
"What's the Use of Wond'rin" - Julie and Girls
"You'll Never Walk Alone" - Nettie
"Highest Judge of All" - Billy
Beach Ballet - Louise, Carnival Boy, Dancers and Children
Reprise: "If I Loved You" - Billy
Reprise: "You'll Never Walk Alone" - Company
Finale - Company

Stage Manager - William J Porter
Club Accompanist - Nan McKechnie
Lighting - Carrick McGhie
Property Mistress - Susan Struthers
Wardrobe Mistresses - Margaret McFadyen, Anna McGillivray
Leader of Orchestra - Andrew Wilson
Prompter - Elaine Anderson