Carousel Review - NODA North West

Billy Bigelow is the main attraction at the local fairground – especially with the ladies.  He likes to use his position as Barker with Mullins’ Carousel to flirt with the female clientele and, if they’re young and pretty like factory girls, Julie Jordan and Carrie Pipperidge, he enjoys it all the more.  When he allows the former a free ride on the carousel, Mrs Mullins threatens to sacks him, she is horrified when he tales up on her threat and leaves.  Naïve Julie feels responsible for his predicament and even loses her own job when she decides to keep him company rather than returning to the factory’s guest house before curfew.  Although a total mismatch, Billy and Julie end up getting married and, as neither have a job, move in with Julie’s cousin Netty Fowler at her waterfront spa.  Frustrated with his unemployment, Billy is offered the chance to participate in a robbery with crooked seaman Jigger Craigin and, at first, refuses.  However, when Billy discovers Julie is expecting, he decides to go along to earn some money for the new baby.  Sadly, the robbery goes wrong and Billy dies – ending up in Heaven while Jigger goes the other way.  Billy is then given the chance to make up for his failings by visiting the Earth for one day.  He meets the daughter he never new and succeeds in making her believe that, even though she has lived in the shadow of her father’s wrong-doings, she has the ability to make her own way in the world.  As he returns to Heaven, he even manages to admit to Julie for the very first time how he loved her.   

This was an excellent presentation of a classic musical.  Paul Dobie was superb as Billy and even though a rogue, it was hard not to feel sorry for him.  He was wonderfully supported by Alison Chard as Julie – her rendition of What’s the use of wonderin’ was lovely.  The Comedians, Jeanette and Leo Appleton as Carrie and Mr Snow were hilarious and kept a smile on the audience’ faces.  I especially enjoyed  the “When the children are asleep” number.  It was also a pleasure to see daughter, Sarah, take her first adult role as Billy’s daughter Louise.  The rest of the cast were more than capable and, together with the hard-working chorus and orchestra, made this a terrific production.  Congratulations to Producer, Rosie Withers, and Musical Director, Peter Weston for an excellent evening.