St Augustine United Church was the perfect setting for this haunting and complex tale of religion, high school bullies, and telekinesis. Adapted from the Stephen King novel, Edinburgh University Footlights took on the musical version of Carrie and they did not disappoint.
From the very beginning everything felt deliberate and simple. From Sue shining in white to Chris’ red blouse and blue eyeshadow, costuming was brilliantly used to aid the audience’s understanding of the characters. The almost empty stage – save for a couple of red benches expertly manoeuvered throughout the show – let the performers truly shine and I can honestly say that there was not one weak singer, dancer, or actor in this cast. The musical numbers in this show were outstanding and a word that kept coming back to me was “layered.” Layered harmonies, choreography, and emotional performances, I was taken aback by the ease with which the cast moved together and leapt across key changes.
A standout performance, for me, was Hannah Whelan, who perfectly conveyed the unpleasant religious contortion of a protective mother’s love, around which the whole show revolves. Whelan’s Margaret White was genuinely terrifying. She sang in anguish and discomfort, conveyed perfectly through the skilled wavering of her voice and the tense body language. To watch her and Carrie (Lucy Walker) sing into each other’s faces without really hearing each other was like watching two stags lock antlers and refuse to let go. I had goosebumps.
The overall quality of this show did not waver between moments of emotional silence, impressive monologues, and demanding musical numbers. It also extended to the incredible live band – who didn’t miss a beat – and the production team whose playful approach to lighting made me feel as though I really was watching a witch cast spells on her schoolmates.
This production of Carrie:The Musical by the Edinburgh Footlights has set the bar high for student musicals, delivering a terrifying yet gut-wrenching performance that pulls on your heartstrings and deeply disturbs.
Carrie: The Musical is running until 22 August at Paradise Green. Buy your tickets here.
Image by Emily Sharp, provided for press use.
