CAROUSEL
Reviews
Lancashire Evening Telegraph - Tuesday October 23, 1990
THE Carousel is coming around again for Accrington Amateurs after nearly 30 years.
When the group last produced it in 1961, Pat Whelan played the female lead of Julie, John Iddon played the male lead Billy Bigelow, Jack Riley played the prolific Mr Snow, and Joyce Mitchell was the Carousel owner, Mrs Mullin.
In the new production, Pat - now Pat Catlow - is preparing to play Nettie, the wise aunt character who sings the showstopping song 'You'll Never Walk Alone', while John and Jack are playing their parts in the chorus and Joyce is helping backstage. Nine others who were on stage and backstage in the 1961 production are also in the new one.
One role is exactly the same, though. The original show at Accrington Town Hall was the second for which Warwick Watson was stage manager - and he is still doing just the same job.
Warwick won the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's 'Curtain Raiser Award' for outstanding contribution to the amateur stage, and he and his team have had to make some outstanding effects for the new show, which will be played in the round at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre from November 12.
Warwick said: "We had to start planning back in April with the producer and myself kicking ideas around before we made a model of the stage. The props and scenery are miniaturised and the whole stage will be like a carousel with models of horses round the edge. It will certainly be different from anything we have done before, and, we think the public will like it."
Villain
Howard Raw is producing and also plays Billy, with Pamela Duckworth as Julie, Theresa Haworth as Mrs Mullin, David Norris as Mr Show and Hugo Conlon - who recently added Bread to his list of minor roles on TV - as the villain Jigger. Don Clarkson is musical director and Kirk Taylor makes his debut as choreographer.
Bookings have opened at Gordon Robinson and Partners Insurance, Accrington, Oswaldtwistle Post Office, and a caravan in Broadway, Accrington, on Saturdays.
Accrington Observer - Friday, 16 November, 1990
Amateurs ROLL up, roll up to the greatest show ... in Oswaldtwistle! It's colourful, it's fun and it's certainly different.
Yes, Accrington Amateurs have produced a winner with this tale of love among the sideshows - a fairground attraction that you shouldn't miss.
For the first time a major production - Artco's Blood Brothers paved the way with a small cast - is being Staged "in the round" at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre and it works superbly well.
If you want to enjoy this show to the full don't do what most theatre-goers do and arrive five minutes before curtain up.
Clowns
Get there in plenty of time and be amazed at the world of bearded ladies, clowns and stiltwalkers. A veritable pageant of delights is on offer even before the show begins - have you ever been to a production where you can get your fortune told? Once the sideshows clear and the "serious" stuff gets underway your enjoyment will not be reduced. Producer Howard Raw uses every trick he can think of to brighten up the evening. Virtually the only thing he doesn't do is flood the floor of the theatre and stage a Busby Berkley-style water ballet.
Innovations
But he brings in innovations without ever intruding on the show's great strength, its musical numbers. Raw also combines his producer's role with that of main character Billy Bigelow - is this a Raw deal? - the fairground barker who falls in love but who can never express his feelings. He sets a fine example to his cast of how to use the whole of the theatre, a vital thing when you stage something in the round. There's nothing worse than having to stare at the back of the main characters' heads for two hours.
Howard Raw brings animation and spirit to Billy-Bigelow and demonstrates that it is possible to act, sing, dance and produce at the same time. I was amazed to flnd that he wasn't behind the bar in the interval!
Talent
The girl of his dreams is Pamela Duckworth who can't half sing. As Julie Jordan she builds on her reputation as one of the area's top talents, showing great timing, expression and of course a great voice. Another top-notch talent is Shirley Mason as Carrie Pipperidge, again displaying a fine singing voice and good stage presence. Talking of stage presence, Hugo Conlon is a frighteningly good Jigger Craigin, a man you most certainly wouldn't want to meet on a dark night. For those of a nervous disposition, beware. He lurches around the stage like a bear with a bad hangover and growls his lines like Robert Newton with a sore throat.
Other individuals who must be mentioned are David Norris as Mr Snow - who looks like Amos Brearley and has a snigger that would put Muttley to shame; Jonathan Slinger as an amazing heavenly spirit; and young Amanda Jones who copes with the difficult role of Louise with great maturity.
Anthem
The famous songs such as 'June is Bustin' Out All Over' are performed with great gusto and the show's great anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is handled so well that you never once think of scarf-waving idiots doubting the parentage of a referee. To demonstrate how good this production is, even the ballet number is worth watching. So often this part of the show is embarassing with little old ladies being driven to discussing the weather as uncoordinated youngsters shuffle self-consciously across the floor. Choreographer Kirk Taylor has done well to avoid any such problems.
Traditionalists may have paled when it was first proposed to put on Carousel in the round: they needn't have worried. In the hands of Accrington Amateurs it is an all-round success.
The show has its final performance tomorrow night.
JOHN ANSON