Tiny Update on "Houdini" and "Carousel"

As long as Billy doesn't speak and sing all of his dialogue in another language to update it, I'm down.

I love Carousel, but feel it probably doesn't need that much of an update.

I agree--I think Carousel has very relevant themes.

---

Especially if they cast Rhiana as Julie Jordan.

That's extremely realistic, though. I've always defended Carousel because Billy's treatment of Julie isn't condoned in the show--she justifies it to herself, but no one else does. Which is really common in abusive relationships, even modern ones.

---

So Hugh Jackman is going to be Danny Elfman's Harry Houdini? Wow.

Can't wait for both!

After his turn at the Oscars, there are more people now aware that Hugh is a real triple threat talent and a movie musical is something people have been awaiting from him for sometime now. Hope he films CAROUSEL soon!

Re Houdini -- it seems that he is inspired by the character of Robert Angier in his film "The Prestige" - a magician who was also a showman! It is noteworthy that the set designer of the recent Oscars, David Rockwell, has also been mentioned as the prospective set designer of "Houdini", although this was a much earlier announcement.

I dread the day online tickets for "Houdini" are first offered on sale - arggh!!!

Ok, this is a bit of a detour from the OP, but this is something that always ticks me off: I think to say that Billy is abusive is a lazy analysis of his character. Yes, he hits her and that is wrong. And everyone IN the show states how it is wrong (check the text, both Carrie and Mrs. Mullin state that Billy or Julie should just break it off). But the truth is that Billy's hitting Julie isn't because of an anger with her or with because he looks at her as an object.

The character of Billy is a true loser. As is Julie, but at least she holds her head high with dignity (the one time we see her falter is when Billy dies). It's one of the reasons I hate it when Billy is cast with some muscular, clean cut, all-American actor who looks more like superman with messed up hair and a bit of stubble. He's not supposed to be a former quarterback of his hometown's football team. He's an all-out loser who has no skills or common sense. It's why he can't get work after he's fired from the carousel. Even Julie mentions that Billy is only good at what he used to do. And even though he'd always been that way, he was happier when he worked at the carnival, where life was free of responsibilities, he didn't have to care for anyone, and he was making a steady pay. Once he's with Julie, he has no options. He can't support her. He has to rely on Nettie to provide for them.

For someone like Billy, that just about kills him. He doesn't want to feel helpless, but he doesn't want to leave Julie because he does love her. But Billy is terrible at expressing his feelings. He doesn't want to open up and if he did, he wouldn't know the words to say (the lyrics in "If I Loved You" foreshadow this). So when he and Julie get into their biggest fight yet, and he knows she's right, he hits her. An instinct he immediately regrets and wants to forget. Which is why he gets so upset when people mention that he hit Julie. He knows what he did, and he's ashamed. The same incident happens with Louise, and once again he hates himself for what he's done. Then the starkeeper's assistant yells at him "Shame Shame!" and states that whenever something doesn't go his way he has to get violent.

But Billy isn't dangerous with the exception of making stupid decisions. He would never want to harm Julie or cause her any shame or any . Hell, he would sooner kill himself than go to jail and leave Julie and their baby with shame (which he ends up doing anyway, but that's not his intention). Julie knows he isn't dangerous. That's why she stays with him. She says to him after he dies "I know why you hit me. I always knew what you were thinking." She understood who Billy was and why he did what he did, which was out of frustration with himself as opposed to her.

And while yes, the time period does affect why she stays, it isn't the sole reason. Ultimately, "Carousel" is a love story of two people who needed each other, but weren't healthy for each other.

---

wickedfan: Well said. I always thought though that Billy and Julie were supposed to be perfect for each other, contrasted with Carrie and Mr. Snow, who are all wrong for each other. The only difference is Billy/Julie have the sad ending and Mr. Snow/Carrie don't. Or that's what my CD booklet says, anyway.

---

WickedFan, that was a great description of the characters of Billy and Julie, and if it was as simple as he was a woman beater and she was a victim, the characters would not be so beloved and have lasted so long.
The fleshing out of their love story is the genius of Rodgers and Hammerstein who let us see the beauty and tragic aspects of their lives through a glorious score, and perhaps my favorite song of the score, WHAT'S THE USE OF WONDERING? A plantiff plea to understand why Julie loves Billy, despite his obvious flaws.

Of course when Billy gets to spend time with his daughter, Louise, the basic instinct is to hit her when he looses his temper. But in the final moments Louise realizes that her Father may have been a loser, but Love and forgiveness are important for her and Julie to NEVER WALK ALONE.

>>>ALSO, HE WAS SPOTTED TONIGHT (4/22) IN A BROOKLYN WINE-BAR BEING "Very sweet, charming and super hot" SUPPOSEDLY PRE-GAMING BEFORE/AFTER HIS NYC TALK-SHOW CIRCUIT.<<<

He had his handprint/footprint ceremony in front of Grauman's in LA on Tuesday 4/21. His family was with him. On Thursday 4/23 the whole family was in Disneyland - pictures at ETonline.com. I doubt he went back to NY.

Updated On: 4/23/09 at 06:20 AM

Is it just me or does it look like Jackman's son is thinking:
"What's up with that big Mouse?"