 CARRIE
A Musical in 2 Acts, a Prologue and 13 Scenes. based on the Stephen
King novel Carrie.
Book by Lawrence D. Cohen.
Music by Michael Gore, Lyrics by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford
Swan Theatre, Stratford on Avon - February 1988 (season)
Virginia Theatre, Broadway - May 12, 1988 (5 perfs)
Story
In Roman, toga-like exercise costumes the girls of the high school
are doing strenuous aerobics under the guidance of gym mistress, Miss
Gardner. After their exercises the girls go to the shower room when Carrie
White notices that she has started her period. Unfortunately, she is not
aware of the natural processes of her body and the rest of the girls taunt
her for her ignorance.
Left alone, and weeping, Carrie expresses her isolation and her longing
for acceptance. The scene then moves to Carrie's home where her mother, Margaret, is
prostrate on the floor. Margaret is a religious fanatic and her fanaticism
encompasses Carrie. When Carrie tells her what happened in the shower
room the incident is interpreted as evidence of Carrie as a sinner. For
her sins she is banished to the cellar of the house.
Meanwhile, the girls of the school are with their beaux. Sue says she
is sorry for Carrie and for mocking her but bad girl Chris says she hates
Carrie.
After her period of banishment to the cellar where she has been expected
to pray to remove her sin, Margaret and Carrie express their love and
torment in their prayers together.
The following day at school Miss Gardner helps Carrie to believe that,
one day, love will come her way.
The kids from school gather at the local meeting place for the young
people. Chris, her dislike of Carrie not diminished, plots with her boyfriend
Billy to torment Carrie still further. However, Sue persuades Tommy to
take Carrie to the high-school prom.
When a delighted Carrie tells her mother of her date for the prom, Margaret
recalls how her fall at a prom produced Carrie. She forbids Carrie to
go to the prom which provokes a reaction from Carrie. It seems that Carrie
has the power of telekinesis - the power to exert influence and move objects
from a distance - and this power she uses to dominate her mother.
Chris and Billy meanwhile, have gone to a pig farm where Billy slaughters
a pig so that Chris can have some blood with which to humiliate Carrie
still further.
But Sue tries to encourage Carrie in her stand against her tormentors.
Carrie has no need of this, however, as she is now developing control
over her telekinetic powers. Using these powers she gets herself ready
for the prom.
At the prom Chris and Billy wreak revenge on Carrie by pouring a bucket
of blood over her. This sets in motion the full might of Carrie's telekinetic
powers. All those on the dance floor are killed by the force of her terrible
powers. Margaret, who realises that the only way to stop the awful things
that Carrie is doing stabs her daughter. Carrie, just by touching, kills
her mother, but she too is fatally wounded. She crawls, dying, to Sue
who tries to comfort her. |
In - Miss Gardner, Girls