Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical

by Oscar Hammerstein II (Lyrics), Richard Rodgers (Music)

(Applause Libretto Library). In a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, swaggering, carefree carnival barker Billy Bigelow captivates and marries naive millworker Julie Jordan. Billy loses his job just as he learns that Julie is pregnant, and desperately intent upon providing a decent life for his family he is coerced into being an accomplice to a robbery. Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent "up there." Billy is allowed to return to earth for one day 15 years later, and he encounters the daughter he never knew. She is a lonely, friendless teenager, her father's reputation as a thief and bully having haunted her throughout her young life. How Billy instills a sense of hope and dignity in both the child and her mother is a dramatic testimony to the power of love. It's easy to understand why, of all the shows they created, Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein's personal favorite.

Genres: Plays, Musicals

182 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2016

About the author

Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and director in musical theater for nearly 40 years.

Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Many of his songs are standard repertoire for vocalists and jazz musicians. He co-wrote 850 songs.

Hammerstein was the lyricist and playwright in his partnerships; his collaborators wrote the music. Hammerstein collaborated with composers including Jerome Kern, Vincent Youmans, Rudolf Friml and Sigmund Romberg, but his most famous collaboration was with Richard Rodgers.

Reviews

[Katie Blackwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The music was phenomenal. If you look into why they wrote it and brought light to both sides of domestic abuse it is so impactful. Absolutely tragic but beautiful and angering all at once. When it was written, war was over and many soldiers were coming back to their girls, and unfortunately bringing back their aggressive and impulsive tendencies. This show sheds a light onto the life of someone who is thrusted out of their common habits to fit a life where they simply don’t belong, or are not accustomed to. Their response in their loss of power leads to their abusive behavior, and is displayed throughout the show. I wish billy received more punishment, but I guess that is something else said about society.

[StorytellerMg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was assigned to read this for the BMI librettist workshop, and surprisingly, I hadn't read it before. It's like a textbook on how to write musical libretti with precision. While the story and themes might feel a bit old-fashioned, it serves as an excellent lesson in the history of musical theatre.

[Brian McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic. Close to perfection as a representation of the beginning of the Golden Age of American musical theater.

[it’s cait · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

This is one of my favorite musicals in terms of the songs themselves. I listen to "If I Loved You" multiple times a week because it's freaking beautiful. I can't rate it high, though, because this story is just too problematic for me. I know it's old and the characters aren't supposed to be likable, but the Stockholm Syndrome clearly shown in this show without any justice makes my skin crawl. It kind of ends with the idea that Billy, who is this giant a-hole of a person, finally did one good thing, so he is redeemed for being an abusive, sexist POS. There's a lot to unpack in this musical and I know a lot of people believe that Rodgers & Hammerstein challenged his behavior, but I'm still doing the research. It just wasn't very CLEAR to me when listening/watching as many times as I have. He's just pure trash.

Still love "If I Loved You", though.

[Matt Chan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lord help me I've never hated a musical so much as I hated Carousel. Music is pretty in a R&H way I guess, but really the only musically memorable song for me was "You'll never walk alone". Can we talk about how trash the plot is? Some good for nothing douchebag marry this girl and literally the next plot line is about how he beats her, but she's like, meh I'm not okay but what can you do? Literally the entirety of act 1. Somewhere along the line they sing and dance about seafood for a big musical number, which, makes me really hungry but in a ludicrous kind of way. Then the jerk-ass husband stabs himself and he dies, but it's all because he was trying rob some guy to "provide for his daughter"? And we're trying to root for the husband? GET A JOB. Just when you thought this show is OVER (#CarouselIsOverParty) it goes on to follow the husband to the AFTERLIFE where he was offer a chance to redeem himself (WHY THO?). Him PROMPTLY FAILS by hitting his grown daughter as a ghost, but WAS STILL REDEEMED BECAUSE HIS DAUGHTER FELT HIS SLAP AS A KISS?! (I don't even know). THEN THE SHOW ENDS. Sorry I got legit angry all over again typing this "review".

[Kelly K · Rating 2 out of 5]

This sure didn't age well, that's for sure.