[Yip1982]

Many people think that Carousel is a profoundly moving R&H score, but I realse that perhaps it has a little bit more light than you think.
It's good that Carousel deals with spousal abuse, sex, violence and suicide, but somehow or other I don't see any profoundly moving songs in the score, other than You'll Never Walk Alone and If I Loved You. The songs for Carrie and Mr. Snow seem lighter and happier, and I can hardly consider them affecting. There also seems to be a light-hearted mood in the Real Nice Clambake and in the biting sarcasm of Stonecutters Cut It On Stone.
I hope I'm not ruffling people's feathers here, as something struck my mind about this serious R&H musical. It reminded me of something that Dvarg said about R&H some time back, and it might be interesting to discuss it further.

[Dvarg]

Uhm, I'm not sure what you mean.

I don't think sad = profound, happy = shallow...?

[Yip1982]

I'm terribly sorry Dvarg. I was inspired to create this thread after reading a remark you wrote in July 2007 about how the score of Carousel sounded happy when this musical was supposed to be sad in its dealings with serious issues.

[Pannic]

Soliloquy isn't moving?

[Yip1982]

[quote="Pannic"]Soliloquy isn't moving?[/quote]

I'm sorry I forgot to factor it into my discussion, even though I knew it was one of the most moving sequences in the whole musical. But I meant to say that even with the gravitas of the Soliloquy, If I Loved You and You'll Never Walk Alone, the music seemed to have a little more light than shade. I fear I'm ill-qualified to write about the script as I haven't read it. I guess it would have things that can't be seen in the songs.