Carousel (Review)

Carousel (Review) Carousel's opening night doesn't
quite make a merry-go-round
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre

Billy Bigelow (George Merrick) helps Julie Jordan (Lauri Landry) onto the carousel in a scene from the Music Circus production of CAROUSEL, now playing under the tent through Aug. 22.

    The last time CAROUSEL played here in Sacramento was in 1996 when it opened that season's Broadway Series at the Community Center Theater.

    After sitting through Monday night's opening of CAROUSEL under the Music Circus tent, I had to go back and read the review I wrote three years ago...yup, same opinion. What I said then still holds, "Some of the scenes in CAROUSEL seem to go on forever and really need to be shortened to better hold the audience's attention." Okay, for me at least, I've decided CAROUSEL isn't my favorite musical. But in fairness, there ARE parts of it I like.

    Monday's opener seemed to have the deck stacked against it, however. In addition to the usual couple of trucks that rumble by outside the tent, the Sheriff's Dept. helicopter seemed to pick an inopportune time to begin circling overhead for what seemed like an eternity. As most Sacramento-area residents know, the helicopter usually puts in an appearance over your neighborhood just as you are trying to go to sleep.

    And in one of those moments you have to love in live theatre, Ric Ryder, who played Enoch Snow, had an entrance he'd probably rather forget. Ryder came on stage sans microphone and had to suffer through several minutes of dialogue before he was rescued right before his first song. A stagehand snuck down to the edge of the stage with his equipment and Ryder, with some assistance from Heather Lee, who played Carrie Pipperidge, donned his microphone and transmitter accompanied by a round of applause from the audience.

CAST OF "CAROUSEL" Carrie Pipperidge - Heather Lee; Julie Jordan - Lauri Landry; Mrs. Mullin - Adinah Alexander; Billy Bigelow - George Merrick; Policeman - Mark Sanders; David Bascombe - Robert Klingman; Nettie Fowler - Teri Ralston; Enoch Snow - Ric Ryder; Jigger Craigin - Joshua Finkel; Captain - Scott K. Ivey; Heavenly Friend - Bill Bishop; Starkeeper - John Z. Ickes; Louise Bigelow - Robyn Cohen; Carnival Boy - Vincent Zamora; Enoch Snow Jr. - Jonathan Wagner; Snow Children - Ali DeGrazia, Courtney Glass, Alex Matias, Molly Elizabeth Perez, Scott Suwabe; Principal - Michael Dotson; Doctor Seldon - John Z. Ickes; Ensemble - Stacy Brush, Michael Dotson, Cristin J. Hubbard, Helena Hultberg, Scott K. Ivey, Ben Johns, Stephanie Lynge, Christy Morton, Mark Sanders, Stephany R. Simonelli, Michael Susko, Paul Woodson.

None of the actors missed a beat though, and it's things like this that make live theatre so much fun.

Lauri Landry

    Despite the opening night problems and an extremely long show - almost three hours - the cast did an admirable job. George Merrick and Lauri Landry played Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, the two young lovers whose relationship is doomed from the start. Heather Lee as Carrie and Ric Ryder as Enoch Snow, along with Robyn Cohen as Louise Bigelow and Vincent Zamora as the Carnival Boy, round out what is really a trio of love stories. Landry was especially beautiful as Julie Jordan and comes to Sacramento after appearing in the original Broadway company of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Sacramento fans will get a chance to see the touring company of that production when it visits the Broadway Series on Apr. 18-23, 2000, at the Community Center Theater.

    Also of note is Teri Ralston who played Nettie Fowler and led the cast in probably the best known song of the production - "June is Bustin' Out All Over." She's no stranger to the Music Circus stage with over two dozen shows to her credit and is always a favorite among the Sacramento crowd. Last November we had the pleasure of seeing her fill in for Carol Burnett in the Los Angeles production of PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

    CAROUSEL performs in the Music Circus tent on the corner of 15th and H Streets through August 22, Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $23-$40. For ticket information call (916) 557-1999 or (916) 923-BASS, or visit the Music Circus box office at 1419 H Street.

    Next up for the Music Circus is A CHORUS LINE, which closes out the 1999 season under the tent. Blane Savage will star as Zach, while Paula Leggett Chase joins him on stage as Sheila.

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