Theatre legends

Last night Carolyn, Kyle and I went to see Carousel.  It featured equity actors in the major roles - and Shirley Jones - the movie's Julie as Nettie - overall it was worth seeing - but there were issues I had with the "take" on some of the characters.  But singing and dancing were first rate - costumes were for the most part perfect and the orchestra was pretty good too.

Billy and Julie lacked chemistry onstage (as their characters I will qualify for Kyle's benefit).  I felt Julie was too perky - not enough of the innocent reflective quality that she should have- and frankly I just felt the actress was a little too old to play young Julie.  She had played Marian in this group's Music Man which I think she'd be perfect for.  I didn't sense any "weakness" in her - not that Julie should be weak - but there should be a certain vulnerability.  This actress didn't portray that at all.

Billy  was a good singer - but I felt his acting overall was pretty weak - he didn't capture Billy's underlying sense of insecurity and his "I'm not good enough" psyche.  Which made him rather one "note" on the acting scale - the only time there was a sense of that was after Julie tells him she's pregnant - that moment was pretty good.

Carrie was pretty funny and sang well - a bit over the top - but I guess she had to go that far because of where Julie was at with her characterization.  There should be a contrast between the two girls - and with Julie so perky Carrie had to really aim high.  And she did.

Enoch was top notch - funny and a good singer and actor.  He was one of my favorites in the cast.

And Louise - well she was a good dancer but as an actress - meh.... first of all she was too old to play 15.  Way too old.  Yeah. Nuff said.

And finally Nettie - Shirley Jones.  I had trouble getting past the fact that she was Shirley Jones and getting to the point where I was watching Nettie - but I suppose that may have just been me.  She sang adequately - for her age - the voice is showing a little wear and tear - and she had difficulty handling the low to middle registers - she's a soprano - and she is older - so it's a bit harder to control that part of the voice - it almost seemed like she had been forgoing training for many years - but she should be studying - to learn how to work with the voice she's got now.  Her top register stuff was pretty good although she had difficulty reaching some of the higher notes.  Her stage presence showed why she's a star - she's definitely got it.  Even in the moments when she's "background".  June is busting was well worth the drive down though.  And You'll Never walk alone - while not so well sung - was well acted.  Funny moment - even stars are human - in beginning of Clambake - when Nettie is supposed to sing "First comes codfish chowder"... well I guess they didn't have chowder last night!  She visibly blanked on the word or choked or whatever - but she smiled and nodded apologetically at the orchestra conducter - and kept going - the only hint that she had dropped was the brief smile and twinkle realizing what she had done.  At the end of the song she seemed to have an awfully good laugh about it with the man sitting next to her on stage.  How cute.  Now I don't feel so bad about struggling with Miss Macadamia's lines!
Well that's enoug here - off to finish setting up my sewing area (aka destroying my dining room)