Carousel

19th - 23rd October 2010, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

Director: David Lilley, assisted by Ann Lilley
Musical Director: Alan Humphrey
Choreographer: Cath Harvey

View programme cover

The fairground    The girls dance at the clambake    Enoch Snr woos Carrie    Billy hangs around with the wrong sort of people

There's no love lost between Jigger and Mrs Mullins    Nettie comforts Carrie and Julie    Billy's not at all impressed with heaven    The company

Billy BigelowChris Strahm
Julie JordanJennifer Russell
Enoch Snow SnrTom Anderson
Carrie PipperidgeLou Petch
Nettie FowlerKate Steggles
Jigger CraiginSteve Chapman
Enoch Snow JnrBen McGarry
LouiseEmily Mizen
Starkeeper / Dr SheldonKen Sawyer
David BascombeGreg Elvin
Mrs MullinDiane Elvin
 
ChorusTrish Barnard, Julie Baxter, Fay Brown, Stan Chamberlain, Andrew Conlon, Debbie Croll, Sasha Dabbs, Jessica Elvin, Paul Endersby, Huw Jones, Al Marshall, Caroline McCourt, Ian Robertson, Freya Smith, Laura Stewart, Anna Winton Mills
 
Chorus / DancersLaura Barnard, Mark Chapman, Julia Foulsham, Josie May Harrington, Colin Musgrove, Cary Palmer, Mel Sunshine, Robert Utting
 
"Snow" ChildrenMegan Barber, Thomas Dunn, Alison Head, Jade Mark, Casper Ramsay, Chloe Smith


With its deadly cocktail of love, greed, tragedy and bits of humour mixed in, this well-liked show performed by the highly talented Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society has something for everyone.

There was a near capacity audience for the opening night and I guess that there was hardly a dry eye in the house by the end of this tearjerker.

The choreography proved to be absolutely superb, with plenty of "picture" moments particularly at the end of the songs.

Lou Petch (Carrie) and Jennifer Russell (Julie) have truly formidable singing voices and great stage presence.

Kate Steggles (Nettie) sang the immortal You'll Never Walk Alone with Jennifer, and the poignancy of this famous anthem was clearly felt by all. Despite its footballing associations, it was great to hear this song performed in its original setting.

Chris Strahm's portrayal of Billy left you in no doubt about this character's fragility, yet deep down you wanted something so different for him.

Adding the "ah" moment were the "Snow" children. You could be forgiven for losing count of them, as the prolific attitude of Enoch towards life raised plenty of smiles. The live orchestra, under the direction of Alan Humphrey, tucked away in the pit, added so much to the thrilling atmosphere of the whole evening.

— Robert Wright, Eastern Daily Press