I suggested getting tickets to Carousel at the very fringe Arcola theatre a while back, but have had the good fortune to have seen it this week. There seems to be an inverse correlation of late in the size of the theatre, and the excellence of the play. Let’s just say that the Arcola is rather small, but the production is extraordinary.
In a small space, the audience is transported to a small universe of New England characters from the opening act which was magical. As other reviewers have said, there’s a slight problem with Southern Accents instead of New England accents (a common one we find equally present on the west end and really annoying to my theatre companion aew, who fortunately was distracted by the brilliant harpist) but that’s the only limitation. Wonderful music, excellent cast, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Carousel at the Arcola Theatre
