Review: Pittsburgh CLO's "Carousel" with Jennifer Hope Willis and Matt Cavenaugh

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 10:38pm

Just saw it at the matinee on Saturday (which was swarmed with a bunch of cute old people) but I really enjoyed it, so I really felt like typing a review.

The production was well-staged, well-acted, and generally well-sung. The set was a step above the usual Pittsburgh CLO show, with a gorgeous amusement park for the "Carousel Waltz", with gorgeous lighting, and a really beautiful tableau that openened the scene.

The cast was VERY strong, with one exception. Matt Cavenaugh was a terrific Billy Bigelow. He sang well, not as well as such Billys with big voices like John Raitt and Gordon MacRae, but with a strong bari-tenor. His youth and sex appeal really lent itself well to the show, as it made the character more likeable throughout the show, particularly when he is cruel to Julie. We feel he is young, and misunderstood, and it really draws a neat dimension to the character I personally had not looked into. Excellent casting. His "Solilioquy" was thrilling.

Emily Loesser was Carrie, and she was TERRIFIC. She was ADORABLE, had a beautiful and strong voice, and terrific comic timing. She absolutely stole the show. Her "Mister Snow" was adorable, and SO well-sung.

Lenora Nemetz was the most fascinating Mrs. Mullin I have ever seen. She gave a stunningly sexual and aggresive performance, and for the first time, I felt that the character was a major part of the story, rather than a necessary cameo. I saw the themes of the show in her character, and her (somewhat disturbrinmg, yet electric) chemistry with Cavenaugh was one of the major highlihgts of the show. This woman needs to return to the Great White Way, and soon.

Jeb Brown's Jigger was comical and sleazy, just as needs be. John Scherer wasa very comical and well-sung Mister Snow, but he seemed to be too old for Loesser's Carrie and it bugged me slightly. Edmund Lyndeck's Starkeeper was very comic and pleasant, and Meg Bussert's Nettie gloriously sung.

Complaints? The major complaint i had with the show was Jennifer Hope Willis' Julie Jordan. I didn't really care for her voice, and in the second act, her acting faltered. "What's the Use of Wondrin'", one of the most beautiful and important songs of the show, was highly rushed and very emotionally detached. I also was not impressed with her acting during Billy's death. I had high hopes for her, but she let me down.

Another less major complaint was the really terrible choreography in "June is Bustin' Out All Over". It looked like high school choreograhpy, and failed to capture the thrilling eroticism of the song. What really made this stand out was the fantastic choreography in all the other numbers, paritcularly the Act Two Ballet and "Blow High, Blow Low".

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 11:11pm

Why is Jennifer Hope busting out all over? She even looked like she was 40 years old back when she was playing Sandy in GREASE at the Papermill, yet there she goes, scoring WONDERFUL TOWN and now this. I don't get it.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 11:15pm

Well she was quite good in WONDERFUL TOWN...much better than Jennifer Westfelt! Gawd, if only Donna Murphy & Jennifer Hope WIlls could have played off of each other that show would have been as near perfect as it could have gotten!

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 12:10am

I'm sorry you didn't like Ms. Wills. I have seen her in Grease, Beautty and the Beast and Wonderful Town and she has never let me down. She was particulary wonderful as Belle and Eileen and, in my opinion, has one of the most beautiful voices on Broadway. "Different strokes for different folks" I guess. I wish I had gotten to see "Carousel" she looked and sounded beautiful from the clip I saw. I'm also glad you liked Emily Loesser. I have always thought she deserved more attention.

[IveGottaBeME]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 12:56am

i also saw Carousel.. i love Lenora Nemetz, wish she sang though LOL. I thought Jennifer had a pretty voice, but her acting did kinda suck in the 2nd act... like when he died. I thought Matt had an ok voice until he got to the Soliquoy--really good! I thought the show was kind of slow and boring at times, but it was niec to see a classic... and "You'll Never Walk alone" and "if i loved you" were great!!!!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 3:27am

Jennifer was amazing in "Wonderful Town", her acting and singing were outstanding and she made a beautiful duet with Brooke Shields.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 3:28am

and her last name is "Wills" not "Willis" =)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 9:51am

Thanks for posting your review. Carousel is one of my favorite shows. I wish Pittsburgh CLO's productions ran a little longer though. No time to make it there for this.