Tag: Orpheus Musical Theatre 2013

Carousel. Orpheus production of this musical theatre classic misses the boat.

Carousel. Orpheus production of this musical theatre classic misses the boat.

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Photo of Agnes de Mille (1940) who choreographed the original production of Carousel. 

Such an unlikely subject for an American musical; in Carousel, Ferenc Molnar’s tough guy character Liliom from the Hungarian carnival becomes a seductive but violent carnie working around a fair on the New England coast, first presesnted on the American stage in  1945.  Drawn to crime, attracting ladies, especially his jealous, voluptuous boss with the flaming red hair Mrs. Mullin, (sung by the excellently swaggering Barb Seabright), he exploits them all and then finally seeks redemption for his cruelty towards Julie who sacrifices everything for him to become his wife. Richard Rogers (Music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics) have chosen a dramatic subject of unusual depth for musical theatre but given its passage from drama to tragedy, to pathos and to comedy, it offers rich stage material for the creators, providing the cast can handle the show.

The complex score is often close to light opera with the beautiful solos and the stirring music that reflects powerful emotions expressed by the haunting melodies. The presence of evil haunts the show, as lyrical moments slide into minor keys. Then there are the lyrics about eating clams and tearing the lobsters apart as the chorus gets ready for the huge clam bake.

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Fiddler on the Roof: A Tevye with heart

Fiddler on the Roof: A Tevye with heart

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Photo. Alan Dean

It is close to 50 years since Fiddler on the Roof debuted on Broadway and it remains one of the best-loved musicals of all time. Through its initial run in 1964, which garnered numerous Tony awards, it became the first Broadway show to top 3,000 performances. As well as becoming a popular movie in 1971, it has been the subject of a number of revivals on Broadway and in London’s West End, a wide assortment of professional and community productions across the English-speaking world and music from the show is a regular part of bar and bat mitzvah celebrations.

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