CAROUSEL A Rogers & Hammerstein Revival that Didn't Need A Reincarnation at Imperial Theater

Rogers and Hammerstein are two of America's most legendary musical composers.  Their show CAROUSEL first opened on Broadway to critical acclaim in April 1945.  The musical is set in a Maine coastal town near the end of the 19th C.  The plot was hokey back then but its hopeful message & the combined musical geniuses of Rogers & Hammerstein and the brilliant choreographer Agnes de Mille made the show a celestial hit.  Regardless, the plot needs too much dusting off to be deemed worth reviving.  It's a dried up and droll show.  Carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Joshua Henry) with swagger & charm falls quickly in love with Julie Jordan (Jessie Jueller) a working class seamstress.  Billy easily succumbs to Jigger's (Amar Ramasar) persuasive plan to a get rich quick robbery in order to provide for Julie and their unborn child.  The robbery goes awry and rather than face prison Billy takes his own life.  Here the plot steals from "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941).  Billy is permitted to return to earth to settle unfinished business.   The musical numbers lack luster except for a couple that can still muster up some shine:  "June is Bustin' Out All Over," "If I Loved You" and the mawkish but memorable "You'll Never Walk Alone."  The show has several of today's most illustrious stars of Broadway & opera.  The singing talents of Tony nominees' Henry ("Porgy and Bess"), Mueller ("Beautiful") and the internationally acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming in the role of Nettie are all highly commendable.  But not enough to make the show recommendable.  It's the choreography by Justin Peck (Resident Choreographer of NYC Ballet) and the fabulous ensemble dancing led by Ramasar (Principal Dancer for NYC Ballet) that give the show its stellar (and much needed) lift.  The majority of musical theater lovers may still be charmed by this production of CAROUSEL.  Except for the stunning dancing I couldn't wait to get off this antiquated ride.