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Carousel
The act opens with two young female mill workers going to the town's carousel after work. One of the workers shy Julie Jordan is flirted with by the carousel's barker, Billy Bigelow. Mrs. Mullin, owner of the carousel sees the attraction between the two and asks Julie not to return to the carousel. Julie's friend, Carrie Pipperidge and Julie get into an argument with Mrs. Mullin. Billy too arrives at the scene and eventually after he sides with the girls, gets fired from the job. The friends discuss the carousel ride with Billy and Carrie confides to her friend that she has a boyfriend Enoch Snow, the local fisherman.
Billy asks Julie to stay with him, Carrie and the mill owner Mr. Bascombe try to dissuade Julie but she stays.
A month later at a spa owned by Julie's cousin, Nettie Fowler there is much merry making and after the men leave Julie, who is now married to Billy, arrives. She is worried, as Billy and his whaler friend Jigger have not yet reached home. Carrie tries to comfort Julie. Julie tells her friend that Billy is not happy as he has lost his job and out of frustration, slapped her. She also narrates that she is pregnant; at this Carrie also gives the news that she and Enoch are to be married. Just then Enoch arrives and in the course of conversation Julie bursts into tears in Enoch's arms. Billy and Jigger arrive at that moment and Billy behaves in a rude manner with both his wife and Enoch. Julie goes after her husband and the soon to be married couple make plans for their future.
Jigger asks Billy to help him carry out a robbery but Billy refuses. Mrs. Mullin approaches Billy and asks him to go back to his old work and he tells her that he is unhappy with Julie. Julie appears and tells Billie that she is pregnant. Billy is happy and decides to assist Jigger to provide financial support to his child. The act ends after the whole town goes to clambake. Billy, who had refused to go earlier, now goes as he thinks that it could work as an alibi.
Act II
After a hearty meal, everyone is ready for the treasure hunt. Meanwhile Jigger tries to seduce Carrie and Enoch sees her in a compromising position. He breaks off with Carrie and the girls try to console her. They even ask Julie to leave Billy but she refuses. Julie sees Billy and Jigger sneaking away and when she tries to stop him, she feels the knife underneath his shirt. Julie begs Billy to give it to her but without listening he goes away. Meanwhile the robbery plan fails, everything goes haywire, the police come and arrests Billy. Billy using the knife kills himself. Julie is shocked and everybody tries to console her. Billy after death reaches heaven's gate, however the Angles tell him that to enter he must lessen the distress he has caused. His Angle sends him back to earth and on the way Billy steals a star. He reaches Earth fifteen years after his death. He sees that his daughter had grown up into a rebellious teen; Mr. Snow's arrogant and wealthy children tease her because her father was a thief. Louise plans to run away from home with a carnival troupe and tells about her plan to Enoch's son Enoch Jr. He proposes to her and she decides to stay, however he feels that his father won't approve of his plan. Louise feels insulted and commands Enoch Jr to leave. Billy, who has the power to make himself visible or invisible, appears in front of his daughter. He tells her that he is a friend of her father and gives her the star. Louise refuses it and Billy slaps her and becomes invisible. Louise narrates the whole incident to her mother. Meanwhile Billy confesses his love to Julie. Everyone shuns Louise. Dr. Seldon, tells the class not to rely on what people say or to their parents' success or be held back by their parents' mistakes. Billy encourages his daughter to have confidence and join the singing. Encouraged by his words Julie and her daughter sing along with the rest of the town. Billy enters Heaven.
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Carousel is the popular musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that was adapted from Ferenc Molnar's 1909 play ‘Liliom'. The original production premiered on Broadway on April 19, 1945 and ran for 890 performances. Carousel was considered to be ahead of its time as it was the first musicals to contain a tragic plot.
