"Carousel" - by Rodgers & Hammerstein - Boston Lyric Opera (Boston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “CAROUSEL” presented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through April 13, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“What are we? A couple of specks of nothin’. Look up there. There’s a helluva lot o’ stars in the sky, and the sky’s so big the sea looks small, and two little people - You and I - We don’t count at all."
- ("Billy") / Rodgers and Hammerstein
Boston Lyric Opera
Presents
Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic musical
"CAROUSEL"
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on Ferenc Molnar’s Play “Liliom”
Adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer
Original Choreography by Agnes De Mille
Co-production with BLO, Austin Opera, and Utah Opera.
Stage Director Anne Bogart
Conductor David Angus (BLO Music Director 2024/25 Season)
Choreographer Shura Baryshnikov
Cast Includes: Brandie Sutton* as “Julie Jordan,” Edward Nelson as “Billy Bigelow,” Jamie Barton* as “Nettie Fowler,” Anya Matanovič as “Carrie Pipperidge,” Omar Najmi+ as “Enoch Snow,” Markel Reed as “Jigger Craigin,” Sarah Heltzel as “Mrs. Mullin,” Lee Pelton* as “Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon,” Theophile Victoria as “David Bascombe,” Tyler Dobies* as “Policeman,” Devon Russo++ as “First Man,” Fred C. Vanness, Jr.++ as “Second Man,” Alexander Davis* as “Captain,” Sabrina Lobner* as “Principal,” Angela Yam++ as “Heavenly Friend # 1,” Abigail Marie Curran* as “Louise,” John Robert Sasso* as “Enoch Snow, Jr.” Dancers: Jay León, Olivia Moon, Cassie Wang.
Additional Creative Team:
Stage Manager - Deb Acquavella*; Set Design - Sara Brown; Costume Design - Haydee Zelideth ** ; Lighting Design - Brian H Scott; Wig and Makeup Design - Earon Chew Nealey; Intimacy Director/Fight Director - Angie Jepson; Sound Engineer/Consultant - Steve Colby; BLO Orchestra Leader - Annie Rabbat; BLO Chorus Director Brett Hodgdon+; Rehearsal Coach/Pianist - Brendon Shapiro+.
* Boston Lyric Opera Principal Debut
** Boston Lyric Opera Debut
+ Boston Lyric Opera Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alum
++ Boston Lyric Opera Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist
Sung in English with English Subtitles
Performances held at Emerson Colonial Theatre, Boston, MA.
Performances:
April 4, 2025 through April 13, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Time)
TICKETS:
On sale now at BLO.org or by contacting Audience Services at boxoffice@blo.org or # 617-542-6772.
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization www.concordtheatricals.com
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venues for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
GET TICKETS!
(Please note: the following review is for a production already passed)
Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) brings a bold, fresh new approach toward an entertaining yet terribly outdated musical with their staging of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic “CAROUSEL.”
Adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play “Liliom,” the 1945 musical “CAROUSEL” was the second musical by Richard Rodgers who composed the music and Oscar Hammerstein II who provided the book and lyrics, moving the action from Molnár's Budapest to Maine.
Now celebrating its 80th Anniversary, “CAROUSEL” originally opened on Broadway in 1945, where it ran for an astounding 890 performances.
Since the Tony Awards were not established until two years later, “CAROUSEL” would have to wait until 1958 for its first Tony Award nomination (for Scenic Design) and nearly half a century before receiving its first five Tony Awards including one for Best Revival of a Musical.
(Cover Photo: CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “CAROUSEL” presented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through April 13, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios)
In this latest staging by the BLO creative team, the production has been directed for the stage by veteran artist and BLO Artistic Associate Anne Bogart.
Even with its brilliant score, performing an antiquated story such as “CAROUSEL” comes with it some inherent overflowing waters of troubling content and societal views – some which are objectionable if not completely unacceptable by today’s standards.
Navigating these troubled waters using an inventive approach to the story, the BLO production achieves a fine if not always balanced mixture of artistic choices.
In the BLO incarnation, the disturbing story of “CAROUSEL” has been “incarcerated” behind a caged wall which, when opened, brings us within a completely “carny” atmosphere.
Now, this artistic approach might not meet the expectations of those seeking a more “traditional” slant (and perhaps falling short for those fans of the 1956 movie “CAROUSEL” starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae) but BLO should at least be lauded for its attempted innovative style - and the set of a dirty, dilapidated carnival is breathtaking.
(Cover Photo: Brandie Sutton as “Julie Jordan” sings as Edward Nelson as “Billy Bigelow” looks on in a moment from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “CAROUSEL” presented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through April 13, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios)
Costuming would seem to be the Achille’s Heel of the BLO production, having seemingly borrowed extensively from Stephen Schwartz’s early musicals - with a colorful '70s Bohemian-esque garb reminiscent of “Godspell” or “Pippin.”
Thinking this may have only been for the show’s opening, audiences would be surprised (if not stunned) to see the motif maintained throughout the entire almost three-hour production.
Set within the massive seedy confines of this carnival, the events of “CAROUSEL” take place in a small seaside community.
Sweet young millworker Julie (Brandie Sutton) meets and instantly falls for Billy (Edward Nelson), a bold, brash carnival barker.
Julie’s millworker friend Carrie Pipperidge (Anya Matanovič) is involved in her own romance with ambitious fisherman Enoch Snow (Omar Najmi).
(Cover Photo: Jamie Barton as “Nettie Fowler” with the CAST performing "June is Bustin' Out All Over" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “CAROUSEL” presented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through April 13, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios)
Some musical favorites include "If I Loved You," sung by Sutton and Nelson, "When the Children Are Asleep" sung by Matanovič and Najmi, and the familiar favorite "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" sung by the cast led by Julie’s cousin Nettie (Jamie Barton) who later renders the iconic "You'll Never Walk Alone.”
The above BLO principal vocal performances are easily the greatest success of the production as they are all exemplary.
However, the transition between the guttural colloquial mannerisms of their Maine characters to the performers' more obviously trained, perfected, formalized and majestic sounding voices is somewhat jarring at times.
Among other notable highs in “CAROUSEL” is the magnificent BLO orchestra, conducted by current BLO Music Director David Angus.
(Cover Photo: Edward Nelson as “Billy Bigelow” with the CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “CAROUSEL” presented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through April 13, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios)
Another artistic high comes in the area of dance, as the dedicated dance ensemble for the production executes the choreography to perfection.
That said, while serving well in the role of dedicated dancers, the subtraction of their lips “choreographed” to move in synchronicity to the lyrics being sung by the rest of the Ensemble for group numbers is extremely distracting.
As is the case in many Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals - love, conflict and marriage all seem to happen within the virtual blink of an eye and, yes – this also happens in “CAROUSEL.”
The whirlwind relationship between Julie and Billy results in both of them losing their jobs.
Their marriage also struggles as Billy becomes exasperated by his lack of work, taking it out on Julie.
(Cover Photo: Taking their final bows is the CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “CAROUSEL” presented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. which concluded their run on April 13, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios)
Here’s where the prevailing issue comes into play and, to be clear, this issue does not rest on the shoulders of either the cast or creative team behind this impressive BLO production.
The issue is inherent within the Rodgers and Hammerstein content itself. “CAROUSEL” contains themes of domestic violence, emotional abuse which some, if not many, would (and should) find problematic and distressing.
There are some lines and phrases which were completely wrong to have been uttered back in 1945 and they are still completely wrong today.
The only “upside” one might find is in how Rodgers and Hammerstein sought to have Billy’s character seek redemption and, while this in no way absolves the character of his aggressive ways, it does provide the flawed Billy with a little more sense of humanity, a humanity worthy of some compassion if not forgiveness.
When Julie reveals she’s pregnant, Billy vows to provide for the family and as the local June Clambake arrives, Billy agrees to participate in a robbery led by the scheming Jigger (Markel Reed).
In the show’s second act, Billy is offered a chance at immortal redemption by helping his teenage daughter Louise (Abigail Marie Curran), who faces struggles of her own because of his criminal past.
No matter if you praise or deride the story, the music in “CAROUSEL” still brings much joy to audiences 80 years later and it probably will continue to do so 80 years from now.
Approximately two hours, 50 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “CAROUSEL” on its 80th anniversary, will be presented at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre, which hosted its 1945 pre-Broadway run.
Baritone Edward Nelson (seen most recently as "Ion" in BLO's “desert in”) plays "Billy Bigelow," the charming carnival barker who falls for millworker "Julie Jordan" (Brandie Sutton, in her BLO debut).
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “CAROUSEL” closes the mainstage season April 4-13, 2025, directed by veteran artist and BLO Artistic Associate Anne Bogart.
“The full range of opera and its possibilities are thrillingly on display next season,” says Artistic Director Nina Yoshida Nelsen, who joined BLO earlier this year and was actively involved in planning the season. “The music, the artists, and the stories are equally spectacular. I know audiences will find plenty to love in these productions; there’s something for everyone at the opera.”
Following her seismic production of composer Poul Ruders’ “The Handmaid’s Tale” in 2019 at Harvard, and the critically acclaimed installation of “Bluebeard’s Castle/Four Songs” that melded Bela Bartók’s one-act opera and songs by Alma Mahler, the award-winning director and BLO Artistic Associate Anne Bogart returns to create a striking new vision for the classic American musical Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein’s "CAROUSEL."
Billy finds himself desperate for money to support his young family and makes a tragic decision that changes everyone’s life.
A paean to the power of love and redemption, "CAROUSEL" had a pre-Broadway run at the Colonial Theatre in the spring of 1945.
BLO's production will be staged in the same location nearly 80 years to the date of the original’s three-week run.
GET TICKETS!
ABOUT BOSTON LYRIC OPERA (BLO)
BOSTON LYRIC OPERA (BLO) inspires, entertains, and connects communities through compelling opera performances, programs, and gatherings.
MISSION
VISION
To create operatic moments that enrich everyday life.
VALUES
Boldness - We tell evocative stories through music and drama on a large scale and in unexpected settings. We celebrate the rich history of opera and promote adventurousness, which advances the art form, accesses our imaginations, and inspires new thinking.
Collaboration - Opera is deeply interconnected storytelling, music, and design on an ambitious level that requires many people’s artistry, technical skill, passion, participation, and support. We nurture creative people and partnerships that are diverse in thinking and experiences, and we provide structure and support for everyone to thrive.
Connection - We nurture a vital ecosystem of relationships and exchanges that elevate the human experience and impact people. These connections are the force that strengthens us and our communities.
Learning - We seek opportunities to learn new ideas and expand our minds, which drives progress. We create time and space to listen, engage and grow together.
Belonging - We are committed to storytelling that reflects a wide variety of perspectives and identities and invites everyone to participate. We create welcoming and accessible spaces that celebrate the uniqueness of our communities.
Administrative Office
Midway Artist Studios
15 Channel Center Street
# 106
Boston, MA. 02210
# 617-542-6772
