Evergreen of highest calibre

Carousel:
Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society:
Civic Hall, Trowbridge

THE EVERGREEN Carousel has been dusted down and comes up fresh as ever with this latest production.

The Trowbridge players have built up a well-deserved reputation over the last 14 years and they have another hit on their hands.

They have the benefit of an excellent orchestra under the direction of Philip Springate, and actor-singers of the highest calibre in key roles.

The story is simple enough – bad boy meets good girl and they fall in love. An indication of how well that is played comes from the silence in the auditorium at the critical moments.

You could not hear a pin drop when ne’er-do-well Billy Bigelow was told he was to be a father, and later when he was killed. Paul Butler, playing Billy, has the happy knack of holding the audience in his palm and his control on stage is a delight to watch.

Fellow baddy Jigger Graigin (Robert Knowles) exuded his evil intent as he plotted and schemed. And the virtuous victim Julie Jordan (Jan Jensen) always retained the sympathy of the first night audience.

One of the great strengths of this family show was the interplay between its characters.

The seduction scene between Jigger and the innocent Carrie Pipperidge successfully combined smiles and sadness, and the items from the chorus were all guaranteed first rate foot-tappers.

Praise is due also to Nick Smith who tackled a difficult role as Louise with skill; Joan Francis for her contribution as Nettie; to Paul Morgan who portrayed the oh-so-smug Enoch Snow with such aplomb; and to the whole cast for their singing and dancing.

Rod Eldridge