ON THE DARK SIDE OF `CAROUSEL'

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- When asked why he based his new Broadway musical "Capeman" on such a dark subject -- the life of a murderer -- Paul Simon invariably brings up Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel."

The 1945 musical turns on the suicide of lead character Billy Bigelow and extended the idea originated by "Show Boat" that a musical could engage serious subject matters.

"Finian's Rainbow," "The King and I" and "South Pacific" followed.

"Carousel" will be presented at 8 p.m. Monday at SIU's Shryock Auditorium.

The romance between carousel barker Billy and mill worker Julie Jordon is central to "Carousel," but it delves into moral questions of right and wrong and redemption, and even into the possibility that relationships extend beyond the grave.

Unlike "Show Boat" and Oklahoma!," two musicals considered landmarks of the genre, "Carousel" doesn't end on a happy note. That was unusual until "The King and I" came along, says Dennis C. Seyer, a theater professor at Southeast and host of the KRCU 99.9FM program "Broadway Melodies."

Seyer considers "Carousel" a good musical because of the music and play it's based on,

The memorable songs include "You'll Never Walk Alone," "June is Bustin' Out All Over" and "If I Loved You."

"And it's a solid book for a musical," he said.

The musical is based on the 1909 play "Liliom," written by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar. Though unsuccessful when it first opened, "Liliom" was revived after World War I and an English adaptation won American hearts in 1921.

But the playwright refused to allow a musical adaptation until the success of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Okalahoma!"

Rodgers suggested transforming Budapest into late 19th century New England.

"Carousel" appeared at the end of World War II, a time when Americans were mourning the loss of loved ones. Julie Jordan's longing for her dead husband hit home, and "You'll Never Walk Alone" was a balm to America's wounds.

John Raitt, father of popular rock 'n' roll singer Bonnie Raitt, played Billy in the original cast, with Jan Clayton as Julie.

The movie version originally was to star Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland but she withdrew before production began. Sinatra quit when he learned he would have to perform multiple takes because of a new process called Cinemascope.

Sinatra and Garland were replaced by Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, who starred in the movie version of "Oklahoma!"

Seyer saw the recent revival at Lincoln Center, which he said broke ground with its unique scenic design and interracial casting.