Performing Arts Center Presents 'Carousel'

Carousel, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s award-winning musical, is now playing at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts.

The spell is cast almost as soon as “The Carousel Waltz” begins to play, and the audience is treated to an ethereal vision of a seaside New England town in the early 1900s. As a magnificent carousel makes its rounds against a breathtaking panorama of sea, sky, and sand, women, men and children dressed in their Sunday best enjoy the blessings of a picture-perfect summer day. You can almost smell the salty air, and taste the cotton candy.

The stage is set for the story which juxtaposes the romances of two very different couples.

Love is in the air as raven-haired beauty Julie Jordan (Tamralynn Dorsa) catches the eye of carousel barker, Billy Bigelow (Jon Rivera) while Mrs. Mullin (Lisa Brodsky) the widowed carousel owner jealously looks on. Love, or at least its romanticized version, has also cast its spell on Julie’s friend, Carrie Pipperidge( Brianne Boyd), who is smitten with a fisherman, Enoch Snow (Ryan Nolin), despite his imperfections.

Although Bigelow is a restless ladies man who enjoys playing the field, he is drawn to Julie, who is just as willing as he to snub her nose at the conventions of polite society. But the star-crossed lovers’ reticence to express the depth of their feelings will prove their downfall.

Dorsa, perfectly cast as the headstrong beauty who’ll throw away her chance at the brass ring by falling in love with the wrong man, has a beautiful singing voice. Rivera is equally convincing as the sulky, hot-tempered carousel barker who can’t avoid making the wrong choices in life. Both the passion and poignant sadness of their ultimate union is foreshadowed by the duet, “If I Loved You.” Rivera masterfully reveals Bigelow’s vulnerable side in “Soliloquy” which Dorsa counterpoints in “What’s The Use of Wond’rin?”

Boyd and Nolin both boast excellent voices and are refreshingly humorous as the show’s comic foils. I particularly enjoyed Boyd’s exuberant “Mr. Snow.”

Brodsky is a stand-out as the manipulative, jealous Mrs. Mullin as is Matt Langen as  Bigelow’s good-for-nothing friend, Jigger Craigin, whose evil plan will derail any chance Billy has for happiness. Deanna Mato, who plays the troubled young Louise Bigelow, the daughter that Bigelow never had the opportunity to meet, has a talent for expressive dance, which is showcased in the dreamy “Ballet.”  

Jennifer Hope, who plays Nettie Fowler, owner of a small seaside inn, sings “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and it’s a showstopper. Songs which feature the entire ensemble and immerse the audience in the fun include the frolicking “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “A Real Nice Clambake.”

Kudos to Director Ken Washington, Musical Director Cara Brown, choreographer Gwenn Capodieci, lighting designer Chris Creevy, costume and wig designer Ronald R. Green III, and set designer David Henderson for bringing such fine summer fare to Smithtown.

Carousel runs through August 28.