|
|
Carousel Still Gives a Great Ride
|
Earley, Holden
|
By Rob Stevens
*Critic's Pick*
The fifty-plus year classic by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II,
Carousel, is being given a wonderfully luscious revival by Cabrillo
Music Theatre in
Thousand Oaks. It's well worth the drive to see the strongest production this
reviewer has seen
mounted by Cabrillo. The producers and director Lewis Wilkenfeld have opted to
return to the
more traditional staging of the show and not use the industrial revolution
framework that Trevor
Nunn pinned on the show's London and Broadway revival in the late 1990s, giving
it an even
darker tone. Carousel has always been the "darkest" of the R&H canon,
with its antihero
a wife beater, absent father, petty thief and womanizer. Wilkenfeld has cast
strongly, both for
singing voices and dramatic abilities, and under his sure direction, his large
cast delivers the
goods.
Kevin Earley owns the stage as Billy Bigelow, a barker at the carousel
in small town New
England. His rich and powerful voice rings through the large theater and his
bad boy persona is
gleefully expressed. His easy charms have the ladies all over him, but he's
attracted to the shy and
solid Julie (an enchanting performance by Kristi Holden). Although they both
profess not to care
about love and each other, in "If I Loved You," it's obvious these opposites
are definitely
attracted to each other. A quick marriage, pregnancy, and hard times soon lead
to marital discord
and his rep as a "wife beater." But the thought of being a parent awakens some
new feelings in
Billy and Earley's delivery of "Soliloquy" is a real standout in this hit and
hit songfest.
The supporting cast is very strong, starting with Gordon Goodman as
Jigger, the wicked
influence in Billy's life. The comedy relief is marvelously handled by Mindy
Reid as Julie's best
friend Carrie and Justin Robertson as Carrie's Mr. Snow. Jennifer Matthews
makes a comforting
presence as Nettie and belts out both standards, "June is Busting Out All Over"
and "You'll
Never Walk Alone" with aplomb.
The score is gloriously played by the orchestra under the baton of
musical director Ilana
Eden. Peggy Hickey's choreography for the large chorus is lively and exciting.
Her ballet,
featuring the wonderful Lisa Gillespie (as Billy's tomboyish daughter Luisa), is
a remarkable and
moving piece of theater. With Earley's commanding voice, the usually
cut "Highest Judge of All"
is back in this production. Wilkenfeld also did something this reviewer has
never seen in all the
various Carousel's he has encountered: the role of The Starkeeper was
divided among
Jigger, Nettie, Mr. Snow, and other people Billy had encountered in his life on
earth. Each
imparts a bit of knowledge about the afterlife and Billy's chance at
redemption. It's a lovely touch
that works extremely well. Bravo to all concerned, except to the sound designer
who made some
of the glorious voices sound tinny and hollow at times.
Carousel, produced by Raymond and Cheryl Mastrovito for Cabrillo Music
Theatre at the
Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. (805) 583-8700. $17-
38. Fri-Sat, 8;
Sun, 2. Closes April 6.
|
|
|
|
