'Carousel" debuts at Old Town Playhouse

By Nancy Sundstrom, special for Record-Eagle

It's been a long wait to bring "Carousel" to the stage of Old Town Playhouse.

The beloved musical, which creators Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein declared to be their personal "favorite" collaboration, was considered nothing short of revolutionary when it debuted in 1945.

Sixty years later, and for the first time ever, OTP has tackled the challenging show with its glorious unusual plot. It will be presented on week-ends through April 30.

The legacy of "Carousel" and its impact on American musical theater is undeniable, to the point that it was voted the "Musical of the Century" by Time Magazine in 1999. It's a arguable claim, with the show's darker elements including themes of class discrepency, sexual magnetism and domestic violence balanced by humor, spirituality and hope.

Then there is the music. If you don't know most of the songs by name, you will surely recognize their melodies and lyrics: "If I Loved You," "What's the Use of Wonderin'," "Soliloquy," "June is Bustin'Out All Over," and "You'll Never Walk Alone," to name a just a few.

Directcted by OTP veteran  performer Don Kuehlhorn, "Carousel" is set in a picturesque New England fishing village in the late 1800s. A traveling carnival has come to town, and its carousel, and handsome barker Billy Bigelow(Mike Axford), have caught the attention of a shy, young local factory worker, Julie Jordan(Allisa Rademacher).

The two couldn't be more different, but their attraction is undeniable. Both lose their jobs over the romance and their quick marriage draws skepticism from everybody around the, including Julie's best friend, perky Carrie(Susan Cockfield) and her straight-laced beau, Enoch Snow(Daniel Jablonski): her compassionate Aunt Nettie(Billie Thompson); the jealous carnival owner Mrs. Mulllin(Margaret Anne Slawson); and the even Jigger Cragin(Fred Kramer), Billy's bad-seed no-account pal.

In the second act, their tumultuous relationship, Julie's passive acceptance of Billy's abuse and his reaction to her unexpected pregnancy lead to tragedy.The plot, which has been developing along conventional story lines, takes an unexpected turn.

Given that the show is six decades old, and became a successful, well-made 1956 film, most know what transpires.

This production is a workable but Luke warm version that acquits itself as average. There is almost no chemistry between Axford and Rademacher, which neutralizes their complex relationship. They have pleasant enough singing voices, but there is a lack of conviction in their acting and emoting.

As the other romantic duo, Cockfield and Jablonski provide comic relief and contrast, and their general confidence as performers brings charm to their quirky infatuation. They deliver a winning rendition of "When the Children are Asleep" and are a strong presence in ensemble numbers such as "A Real Nice Clambake".

Able support also comes from Thomson, who gives her all to the signature "You'll Never Walk Alone"and Kramer, who has great fun with "Blow High, Blow Low" and the "Stonecutters Cut It on Stone." Director Kuehlhorn has a relatively young cast for his show, and though they bring enthusiasm to the stage the contributions of the more experienced actors provide a much-needed balance.

Another bright spot is the orchestra, led by conductor Craig Jones.

Performances of "Carousel" at OTP ore schedules for April 14-16, 21-23, and 28-30 at 8p.m., with 3p.m. matinees on Sunday April 17 and 24. Tickets are $20, and can be reserved by calling the OTP Box Office at 947-2443 from 4-8pm Monday-Saturday or two hours prior to showtime.

Best Loved Musical Old Town Playhouse to do 'Carousel' for first time

TRAVERSE CITY - The Old Town Playhouse will present one of the best-loved musicals by one of the best-loved musical writing teams of the last century.
    The spring production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel" will open on Friday, April 8, and offer 13 showings through Saturday, April 30.
    The last musical of the season for OTP, 'Carousel" has been a favorite for 60 years. It's won five Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival in 1994, and was named the Best Musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine.
    "It's never been done at the.Playhouse," said Director Don Kuehlhorn. "It's got some of the best-known songs and it just seemed like the time to do it."
    The play's well-known songs include the seasonal paean "June is Bustin' Out All Over," the ballad "If I Loved You" and the bittersweet "You'll Never Walk Alone."
    The fact that Rodgers and Hammerstein , songs tend to be so popular can sometimes present a challenge when perform­ing them in the plays for which they were written, Kuehlhorn said. That's because people may have gotten used to hearing some of them sung for the song itself, rather than as part of a play.
    "Now you have to sing it to people on stage for a specific value," Kuehlhorn said. The cast has to emphasize certain lyrics or create a different mood with the song than they may be used to hearing on recordings.
    "Carousel" is the story of carnival barker Billy Bigelow, who falls in love with Julie Jordan and mar­ries her in Maine in the late 1800s. Bigelow loses his job when Julie is preg­nant and gets coerced into helping with a robbery. Facing shame and prison, he kills himself 
    He comes back to life for one day when their daugh­ter is a teenager to offer hope to her and her mother
   Billy Bigelow is played by Mike Axford, who most recently played Amos Hart in the OTP production of "Chicago" last year.
   The female lead of Julie Jordan is played by Alissa Rademacher, a recent grad­uate of Northwestern University who is making her OTP debut 
    The production will fea­ture a 30-member cast and a pit orchestra of 14 led by Craig Jones. Tom Morrell is choreographing the ballet at the end of the sho.w
   The production will use "very sparse staging”, including sets that consist a carousel, a frame of two houses and a church and two benches.
    "I decided to give them costumes, show them a set and have them imagine everything and just stand and deliver," Kuehlhorn said.
    The productions are scheduled for 8 p.m. April 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28,9 and 30. Matinees are scheduled for 3 p.m. on two Sundays, April 17 and 24.
    Tickets are $20 apiece and senior citizens are admitted for $16 on Thursdays.
    The box office is open for walk-up sales from 4 to 8 .m. Monday-Friday.
    For reservations, ca11 947-2210, or buy online at www.OldTownPlayhouse.com