CAROUSEL
PRESENTED BY SOUTHEND OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
Wed 15th April - Saturday 18th April 2015
PRESENTED BY SOUTHEND OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
Wed 15th April - Saturday 18th April 2015
SODS latest production of Carousel is certainly somewhat of a family affair. Maddy Robinson who is just a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday is playing the starring role of Julie Jordan and will be performing alongside her mum, Vanessa, who joined the Society way back in 1978. Maddy is the third generation of her family to be involved with SODS as her grandmother was also a member of the group, joining in 1956.
I asked Vanessa what it is like watching her daughter performing and whether she gets nervous for her. “I’m really proud of Maddy. Fortunately I don’t really get nervous for her as she’s always so confident. She’s been performing since she was a little girl with MAPA.” “In fact”, she adds, “I probably get more nervous than she does!”
Having previously only performed in the chorus for Guys and Dolls and as one of the Cagelles in La Cage Aux Folles, Maddy is thrilled to have won the role of Julie Jordan; and quite deservedly so, if by judging what I heard of her spine tingling rendition of “If I Loved You”, is anything to go by. In fact, almost by way of an endorsement, Maddy modestly tells me that she has been offered a place at the Birmingham Conservatoire to study Classical Voice, this September.
The driving force behind this production of Carousel is the hugely enthusiastic and talented Suzanne Walters, who herself has played many leading parts within the group, including Eliza in My Fair Lady, Mabel in Mack and Mabel, Mrs Anna in The King and I, Jane in Calamity Jane and Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast; and is delighted to be directing this classic 1945 Broadway hit. A piece that Time Magazine voted as the best musical of the 20th Century. Suzanne holds a lot of fondness for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical as it was the first show she was involved in, when she joined SODS in 1996, playing the part of Carrie.
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to direct,” she tells me. “This is the first time I’ve directed a spring show and the turnaround is very quick after our last one, so we have had a shorter time period to rehearse. Having said that, all the cast have been amazing and have worked so hard; I’ve loved every minute of it,” she enthuses. “The only thing that has been a bit tricky for me, has been adapting to The Palace Theatre stage,” she confides. The last time Suzanne directed a show for SODS was for their production of Fiddler on the Roof which was performed on the much larger Cliffs Pavilion stage. However, with the help of choreographer, Vicky Wyatt, everything has fallen into place and they are ready to wow The Palace Theatre audiences with some imaginative staging. “We have a cyclorama which will project the carousel plus a few other things - but I’m not going to tell you everything,” she grins, “they’ll be a few surprises!”
Suzanne is also excited to have Elizabeth Dunlop as Musical Director. This is the first time Elizabeth has MD’d for SODS and she says that she’s really looking forward to waving the baton in the orchestra pit come show week.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the storyline, this emotional roller coaster of a musical introduces us to a swaggering, carefree carousel barker Billy Bigelow, who will be played by SODS Chairman, Ian Gilbert. He captivates and marries millworker Julie Jordan, but he loses his job and then discovers his wife is pregnant. Desperate to provide for his family, Billy is coerced into carrying out a robbery with his friend Jigger. However, they are caught in the act and, facing prison, Billy commits suicide. After 15 years in purgatory he is permitted to spend a day back on Earth. He encounters his daughter and discovers her father’s reputation has left her lonely and bullied. Can Billy instil hope and dignity into his daughter and her mother before he must return ‘up there’?
Carousel features much-loved songs such as You’ll Never Walk Alone , The Carousel Waltz , If I Loved You, June is Bustin’ Out All Over, Soliloquy and When The Children Are Asleep.
Make sure you grab your tickets fast!
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Evenings £17.00
Matinees £14.00
Evening performances only: Groups 10-19 10% off - Groups 20+ 15% off
A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies, capped at four per order. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Click here for Carousel Review
I asked Vanessa what it is like watching her daughter performing and whether she gets nervous for her. “I’m really proud of Maddy. Fortunately I don’t really get nervous for her as she’s always so confident. She’s been performing since she was a little girl with MAPA.” “In fact”, she adds, “I probably get more nervous than she does!”
Having previously only performed in the chorus for Guys and Dolls and as one of the Cagelles in La Cage Aux Folles, Maddy is thrilled to have won the role of Julie Jordan; and quite deservedly so, if by judging what I heard of her spine tingling rendition of “If I Loved You”, is anything to go by. In fact, almost by way of an endorsement, Maddy modestly tells me that she has been offered a place at the Birmingham Conservatoire to study Classical Voice, this September.
The driving force behind this production of Carousel is the hugely enthusiastic and talented Suzanne Walters, who herself has played many leading parts within the group, including Eliza in My Fair Lady, Mabel in Mack and Mabel, Mrs Anna in The King and I, Jane in Calamity Jane and Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast; and is delighted to be directing this classic 1945 Broadway hit. A piece that Time Magazine voted as the best musical of the 20th Century. Suzanne holds a lot of fondness for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical as it was the first show she was involved in, when she joined SODS in 1996, playing the part of Carrie.
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to direct,” she tells me. “This is the first time I’ve directed a spring show and the turnaround is very quick after our last one, so we have had a shorter time period to rehearse. Having said that, all the cast have been amazing and have worked so hard; I’ve loved every minute of it,” she enthuses. “The only thing that has been a bit tricky for me, has been adapting to The Palace Theatre stage,” she confides. The last time Suzanne directed a show for SODS was for their production of Fiddler on the Roof which was performed on the much larger Cliffs Pavilion stage. However, with the help of choreographer, Vicky Wyatt, everything has fallen into place and they are ready to wow The Palace Theatre audiences with some imaginative staging. “We have a cyclorama which will project the carousel plus a few other things - but I’m not going to tell you everything,” she grins, “they’ll be a few surprises!”
Suzanne is also excited to have Elizabeth Dunlop as Musical Director. This is the first time Elizabeth has MD’d for SODS and she says that she’s really looking forward to waving the baton in the orchestra pit come show week.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the storyline, this emotional roller coaster of a musical introduces us to a swaggering, carefree carousel barker Billy Bigelow, who will be played by SODS Chairman, Ian Gilbert. He captivates and marries millworker Julie Jordan, but he loses his job and then discovers his wife is pregnant. Desperate to provide for his family, Billy is coerced into carrying out a robbery with his friend Jigger. However, they are caught in the act and, facing prison, Billy commits suicide. After 15 years in purgatory he is permitted to spend a day back on Earth. He encounters his daughter and discovers her father’s reputation has left her lonely and bullied. Can Billy instil hope and dignity into his daughter and her mother before he must return ‘up there’?
Carousel features much-loved songs such as You’ll Never Walk Alone , The Carousel Waltz , If I Loved You, June is Bustin’ Out All Over, Soliloquy and When The Children Are Asleep.
Make sure you grab your tickets fast!
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Evenings £17.00
Matinees £14.00
Evening performances only: Groups 10-19 10% off - Groups 20+ 15% off
A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies, capped at four per order. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Click here for Carousel Review