Little Theatre stages R&H classic, 'Carousel'

The Little Theatre of Fall River tonight opens its production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, "Carousel."
The musical will be staged at 8 tonight through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Margaret L. Jackson Arts Center Theatre of Bristol Community College.
With music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, "Carousel" is based on Ferenc Molnar's play, "Liliom." In presenting "Carousel," Little Theatre is joining in the national centennial celebration of the late Richard Rodgers.
Set in a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, "Carousel" tells the story of swaggering carnival barker Billy Bigelow, who captivates and marries the naive mill worker, Julie Jordan. Billy loses his job just as he learns that Julie is pregnant, and, desperately intent upon providing a decent life for his family, he is coerced into being an accomplice to a robbery.
Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent "up there." When Billy is allowed to return to Earth for one day, 15 years have passed and he now encounters the teenage daughter he never knew. How Billy instills in both the child and her mother a sense of hope and dignity is a dramatic testimony to the power of love. It's easy to understand why, of all the shows they created, "Carousel" was Rodgers & Hammerstein's personal favorite.
Some of the best-known songs from the score include "June is Bustin' Out All Over," "A Real Nice Clambake," "You'll Never Walk Alone," and "If I Loved You."
The production is directed by Richard Pelletier, whose Little Theatre directorial credits include "The Sound of Music," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Camelot," and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Musical direction is by Paul Sardinha with Janice MacDonald as choreographer. Jean Mendes is the production's stage manager.
Starring Joey Raposa as Billy Bigelow and Dawn Boucher as Julie Jordan, the cast includes Lacey Upton as Carrie Pipperidge, Bob Houde as Enoch Snow, Cathy Taitz as Nettie Fowler, and Elliot Donovan as Jigger Craigin.
Included in the company of "Carousel" are Dee Kullander, Roger S. Belanger, Desiree Justin, Jeff Bibeau, Eugene Rheaume, Bing McGrath, Kathy Castro, Evan Rousseau and Chris Chambers.
Single tickets are $15 for "Carousel," with discounts available for students, seniors and groups of 20 or more.
For reservations and information, call the Little Theatre box office at (508) 675-1852.
The arts center is on the BCC campus at 777 Elsbree St., Fall River.

 

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This story appeared on Page C3 of The Standard-Times on May 16, 2002.