This musical has a chequered history. Based on a Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel, it was turned into a play and performed in 1988, first tested at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and then running on Broadway. After only 21 performances (16 of them previews), ‘Carrie’ became a byword for an expensive flop in the musical business.
Cut to the joyful Bromley Musical Theatre Company and their exuberant performance at the Brockley Jack. It was a brave producer which decided to stage this show, based on the original book and lyrics, but they cracked it.
There is a huge cast – at least 17 people, used to energetic effect by director Caitlin Hargreaves who dynamically creates a high school atmosphere of sex and bitchiness. The opening scene alone showed us it was a night to be up for a good musical. The cast were singing their hearts out with strong harmonies and doing their fun dance routines.
Most people know the plot from the film. The play is set in Carrie’s high school and her home showing the intense relationship with her God-loving mother, and the equally intense opposite – ostracisation and bullying at school. The main character, Carrie, is a withdrawn and anguished teenager who is tormented at school. She develops her telekinetic powers and her terrible revenge on her persecutors is the horror element of this high school story.
The question is whether Carrie, played suitably shyly here by Shannon McCarthy, is a heroine or a monster. Do we start to side with her enemies, particularly after her rage kills the innocent, like the liberal teachers who are trying to do their best for her? Neither they, nor the well-meaning schoolfellow, are a match for Carrie’s malevolent rage. The kids looking forward to their prom night singing ‘A Night We’ll Never Forget’ is the portent of their doom.
Carrie’s religiously obsessive mother is clearly a villain, all the more awful because she believes she is doing God’s work, here played with passion by Jaime Finch. Miss Garnder, the decent gym mistress struggling to bring decency to spiteful teenagers, played by Allana Ludgrove, is a strong presence. Both have excellent voices. Millie Mayfield puts in a bold, genial performance as Sue Snell as a schoolmate who genuinely tries to help Carrie, making her the moral core of this story. The cast put their all into the performance making this a terrific night of fun for the audience.
Venue: Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Main Cast: Shannon Mc Carthy, Jaime Finch, Millie Mayfield, Matt Page, Kaisey May
Music: Michael Gore
Lyrics: Dean Pitchford
Director: Caitlin Hargreaves
Until Saturday 1st August
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes including 15 mins interval