Carousel Reviews

MusicalsOff West EndOpen Air ProductionsStrictly Limited RunsClassic

Average customer review: 2.5 star rating (2.5 Stars)

Number of reviews: 18

Page:123All

Sort:

5.0 star rating Theresa Jane Leigh from London, England

A REFRESHING NEW TAKE ON A CLASSIC FAVOURITE

I was so looking forward to seeing this as has always been my absolute favourite, I went with an open mind and was not disappointed!, it's easy to expect to see what you know but this being an outdoor production and on such a unique stage was always going to be different, the singing was haunting and the dancing beautiful to watch, I know people expected to see the dancing horses of the carousel but if you just sat back and used your imagination you would get it, I loved every minute of this production from the first notes of the instruments to the last bow, well done to you all and thank you for the experience!.

4.0 star rating Ernie from Buckinghamshire

IMAGINATIVE PRODUCTION

Enjoyed. Good cast but Julie’s voice not up to rest of cast. Final scene with Billy’s daughter - peculiar. The show always held my attention and no regrets in attending. Interesting set.

4.0 star rating Ann Gwynn from London, England

CAROUSEL

A strangely dark production. All the leads were very good and it’s hard to go wrong with those terrific songs. For me, it was written in the 40s, so why try to bring twenty-first century attitudes to it? The big numbers, like ‘June is bustin’ out’ never quite got going nor gave me the spine tingle. But the open air theatre is always a joy and I loved the brass band bit.

3.0 star rating Leanne from London, England

FLAWED BUT STILL FABULOUS

The first act was a joy, original but wonderful. However even a cast who acted well and sang beautifully couldn't save this production from a weirdly twisted and try too hard to be clever closing act. The magic of this musical is that you root for a very unlikable character however in this production, Billy shows no compassion for his wife or daughter, he has no redemption and so the ending has no heart. Poor Louise, who dances beautifully also has a one dimensional story with no sense of hope or joy as even her final dance partner, is also shown to want only one thing from her. The figure rolling in an ungainly manner down the stage repeatedly in the final song strikes a jarring note and is almost comical. What a shame as the acting, dancing and singing was wonderful.

3.0 star rating Mark taha from London, England

MIXED FEELINGS

It is a great show. The singing was really good. However, the cast just didn't look right in many cases. The show was too PC - Billy was not.an abuser, just not able to relate to people, and should have been allowed to redeem himself by speaking to Louise at the graduation. And they wouldn't have had Geordie accents in New England!

3.0 star rating Anna from London, England

SOME WONDERFUL MUSIC BUT THE END WAS AWFUL

I really got the setting with the minimalist wooden stage, the revolving Carousal of life and the score for the music, and at many points the singing was superb. The sea shanties were great and fitted totally with the transposition to England. But after Billie died this somehow fell apart. The graduation scene was irrelevant, especially in Covid times. Indeed the violation of his daughter somehow invalidated the last song ‘you’ll never walk alone’ as she clearly was walking alone, doomed to the patriarchy her mother lived through. and in any event the last song made me cringe, and I practically ran out to go home. But there were many moving moments. and I found the love of the protagonists, and the cynicism of their community believable.

3.0 star rating David Johnson from West Sussex

SABOTAGE

Loved Act 1, the innovations, mood, styling and performances all fine and made for engagement. Billy's death seen touchingly portrayed, as well staged as I have seen, and the audience were rapt. From there you lost it. The re-write of the final section of the show was nothing short of criminal. If you can't deal with how the ending of "Carousel" is written, do not touch it. Quoting Sondheim, "Carousel is about life". Denying Billy's redemption will not cure domestic violence, just as ending Hamlet with smiles and jokes would not cure mental health. An ill-judged massacre of a beautiful script left a bereft Louise with no future, Julie devoid of any justification for her belief in Billy, and the latter, poor sap (why would Declan Bennett have accepted to do this?), cast emasculated into a dark auditorium before the end. What were the production team trying to do? Please leave the stage, this is not worthy.

Page:123All

What you thought

Seen Carousel? Loved it? Hated it?

Help your fellow London Theatreland visitors by leaving the first review. Everyone will love you for it, we promise!

Write a review now

Nearby

Venue home

Venue home

location

Location

restaurantsDiningRestaurants
hotels

Hotels

Additional Information

seating chart
SeatingSeating map

Spread the word

Sound good to you? Share this page on social media and let your friends know about Carousel at Open Air Theatre.

Keep up to date

I want email news and updates for events in my area! Read how we protect your data.

Please note: The term Open Air Theatre and/or Carousel as well as all associated graphics, logos, and/or other trademarks, tradenames or copyrights are the property of the Open Air Theatre and/or Carousel and are used herein for factual descriptive purposes only. We are in no way associated with or authorized by the Open Air Theatre and/or Carousel and neither that entity nor any of its affiliates have licensed or endorsed us to sell tickets, goods and or services in conjunction with their events.