CARNIVAL

Carnival opens with a lone figure–Jaquot–playing "Love Makes The World Go Round" on a concertina ("Opening"). Gradually, the other carnival members enter and parade their colorful banners and bright costumes ("Direct From Vienna"). Lili, a young optimistic orphan, enters the gift caravan in hope for a job ("A Very Nice Man"). Marco the Magnificent, a magician, enters and performs a magic trick, which enchants Lili so much that she falls in love with him. He invites her to his trailer and charms her ("A Sword And A Rose And A Cape"). She agrees to participate in one of his magic tricks and leaves to explore more of the carnival happily ("Yes, My Heart"). Over in another part of the carnival we meet Paul Berthalet, a lonely, bitter and crippled puppeteer who is unhappy with life ("I've Got to Find a Reason"), ignoring his friend Jaquot's protests. Lili enters, glad to meet them. She tells them of her hometown "Mira" because she is homesick("Mira"). Jaquot feels sympathy for Lili, but Paul is unmoved and doesn't care. At the night's performance, Lili ruins the trick and the show. Humiliated, she prepares to leave, but is stopped by a small redheaded puppet named Carrot Top. Lili meets the three other puppets–Horrible Henry, Maugerite, and Reynardo the Fox. Lili, after singing a song to comfort Horrible Henry ("Love Makes The World Go Round") she decides to join the puppet act. When Lili leaves, it is revealed that Paul is the puppeteer. The puppet act becomes a hit, starting with the song "Yum Ticky" and then grander songs like "The Rich" and "Beautiful Candy". Paul notices that he pays a lot of attention to Lili and curses his obsession with "Her Face" only to realize the emotion he's feeling is love. All the same, he treats her with increasing cruelty but increasing care through his four alter egos.Jaquot sees the carnival is gaining popularity and predicts that the carnival will soon be "The Grand Imperial Cirque De Paris". Paul is fustrated and while practicing with Lili, corrects her every move and excecutes a dance step miserably, causing him to fall. When Lili runs to help him, he kisses her. Lili is shocked, angry and confused. They run to opposite sides as Lili proclaims he's the first person she's ever hated "I Hate Him" while Paul reprises "Her Face" Meanwhile Marco practices a magic trick with his partner, The Incomparable Rosalie, who has threatened to leave him for a doctor. They pledge their love with"Always, Always You". Paul sings about his love with "She's My Love". Lili, stressed, prepares to leave the carnival. The carnival, too, is moving to a new town. Carrot Top appears asking her if she will leave without saying goodbye. She sees the puppet is trembling, and lifts the puppet off to reveal Paul's hand. She brings him out of the puppet stand . As Paul confesses, she begins to understand the kindness in him and together they follow the carnival.

 

2009-2010

SPRING PRODUCTION

Southwest Iowa Theater Group

CARNIVAL

Directed by: Stan Orton and

Cindy Baker

Performance Dates:

March 12th-14th and 19th-21st 2010