Review of Carousel (2013) by Catherine L — 09 Oct 2011

Truly some of the most beautiful and most sophisticated music to come out of Broadway. If you like musicals and haven't seen this yet. you must.

If I loved you.

Time and again I would try to say.

All I'd want you to know.

If I loved you.

Words wouldn't come in an easy way.

Round in circles I'd go.

Longin' to tell you, but afraid and shy.

I'd let my golden chances pass me by.

Soon you'd leave me.

Off you would go in the mist of day.

Never, never to know.

How I loved you . . .

If I loved you.

One of the greatest love songs to come out of musical theater. Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones: A Hollywood musical match made in heaven. I wonder if Jones might have broken a few hearts in high school . . .

Carousel's story is different from most Hollywood musicals in several ways, the most significant of which is that true love is won right at the beginning, then is tragically squandered by Billy Bigelow, although not ultimately lost. Besides such memorable numbers as the "Carousel Waltz" theme itself and "You'll Never Walk Alone"--the ultiimate graduation song--, one of my all-time favorites is "When (the) Children Are Asleep," the beautiful duet, shared by Carrie and Mr. Snow on the way to the clambake, in which they dream of their married future together:

When the children are asleep we'll sit and dream.

The things that every other dad and mother dream.

When the children are asleep and lights are low.

If I still love you the way I love you today.

You'll pardon my sayin' I told you so.

When the children are asleep, I'll dream with you.

We'll think what fun we have had and be glad that it all came true.