CAROUSEL

Costume Plot

By:  Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein III

Time  :         1873 – 1888

PRELUDE     :         AN AMUSEMENT PARK ON THE NEW ENGLAND COAST, MAY 1873

FEMALES:

Carrie Pipperidge – Age 20:

Light summery semi bustle, about 6” from floor in light color, small shoulder shawl

Julie Jordan – Age 20:

Summery semi bustle with long sleeves

Mrs. Mullin – Age About 45 – Proprietor of sideshows

Dressy, little on floozy side, sleeves, frilly collar

Singers:

Assorted summery dresses, all with hats, few parasols

Ballerina:

Ballet circus rider, spangled tutu

Dancers:

Kootch dancers in sideshow oriental set

MALES:

Billy Bigelow – About 25:

Wears same costume throughout – bright plaid trousers, vest, crew neck sweater with long sleeves in light brown, four button sack coat in string color with lighter braid, 1 pea jacket for the picnic scene
First Policeman:

Regulation police outfit with belt

David Bascome – Elderly gentleman, New England factory owner:

Solid cutaway colored suit in dark blue or dark grey, square top derby

Singers:

Assorted summery period suites – Sailors in dark blue with pancake hats, barkers, balloon vendors

Dancers:

Few in summery street suits and other assorted circus clowns (if dancing boys available, the circus clowns are necessary for the atmosphere and can be played by singers.

Premier Ballet Boy:

As Teddy Bear

ACT ONE, SCENE 1 – TREE LINED PATH ALONG WITH SHORES, A FEW MINUTES LATER:

Carrie, Julie, Billy, Mr. Bascombe, Mrs. Mullin:

All repeat from Prelude

ACT ONE, SCENE 2 – NETTIE FOWLER’S SPA ON THE OCEAN FRONT – JUNE

FEMALES:

Carrie:

Change to nice, summery dress

Julie:

Summery dress and fichu, should be floor length

Mrs. Mullin:

Repeats Act One costume, adds very floozy hat with ostrich plumes, lace shawl with spangles

Hannah/Arminy/Penny/Jenny/Virginia/Susan:

All Members of chorus short summery dresses, calf – or knee length

Ballerina:

Short, summery dress for dancing purposes, short puffed sleeves, calf or knee length

MALES:

Billy:

Repeat

Enoch Snow – About 45:

Four buttoned white period sack suit, white panama hat

Jigger Craigin:

Gray barn door pants, rust T shirt, black neckerchief, blue pea coat

Boatswain:

Sailors shore uniform in blue

Ballet Boy:

White flannel, pants, striped basque shirts with long sleeves, black neckerchiefs

Singers:

White flannel, pants, striped basque shirts with long sleeves, black neckerchiefs

FEMALES:

Singers:

Repeat ACT ONE – add period pinafores – must be full length

Dancers:

Calf length summery dance dresses

MALES:

Dancers:

Pale gray trousers, rust colored or assorted T shirts with long sleeves, black neckerchiefs, a few can have straw sailor hats.

ACT TWO, SCENE 1 – ON AN ISLAND ACROSS THE BAY, THAT NIGHT

Everyone repeats from ACT ONE, SCENE 3

Julie:

Add shawl

FEMALES:

Julie:                     Repeat

Carrie:                   Repeat

Nettie:                    Repeat

Mrs. Mullin:           Long black cloak over ACT ONE dress

MALES:

Billy:                      Repeat

Jigger:                   Repeat

Bascombe:            Repeat

Captain:                 Short seat length slicker and southwestern hat, boots, blue pants

Sailor:                    Repeat sailor costume from Prelude

Two Policemen:     One can repeat from ACT ONE and other is same type uniform

Mr. Snow:              Repeat

CROWD – CHORUS – REPEAT ACT TWO, SCENE 1

ACT TWO, SCENE 3 – UP THERE (HEAVEN) – 1873

MALES:

Billy:            Repeat

Heavenly Friend – Brother Joshua:

Blue/gray four button period sack suit (everything same color) coat, vest, pants, shirt, collar and tie

Starkeeper:

Blue/gray overalls and shirt (same color as Heavenly Friend)

ACT TWO, SCENE 4 – DOWN HERE, ON A BEACH 15 YEARS LATER – 1888

FEMALES:

Louise – Billy’s girl – about 15 years old:

Dance costume, very plain dress about knee length with flared skirt, plain princess style

Younger Miss Snow – supposed to be daughter of Snow:

Pretty eyelet child’s costume, long black stockings drop sash bow around waist, big bow in back, long sleeves, hat

Dancers:

Dress as Miss Snow “The Sisters Snow”  Kiddies, same style different sizes

Dancers – Carnival Woman:

Corselette with drape around bottom (bright color) tights, hat

Dancers – Members of the Carnival Troupe):

Corselettes, draped hip pieces, tights, plain or embroidered shirts with sleeves, can be aerialists and assorted.  All have tights and some type of leotard

MALES:

Dancers – Brothers Snow:

Little boys blue shirts, with short pants, three button blue sack coat, buster brown collars, windsor ties and hats

Dancers – Badly brought up boys:

Jeans, ragged, faded shirts, colorful

Carnival Boy – Young Man like Billy

Plaid trousers, crew neck sweater

Dancers:

Tights and spangled trunks collar pieces, circus aerialists 

ACT TWO, SCENE 5 – OUTSIDE JULIE’S COTTAGE

FEMALES:

Louise:

Complete pinafore over white graduation dress for quick change

Julie:

Another bustle dress – very pretty but conservative – puts on jacket and hat for next scene

Carrie – Now Mrs. Snow:

Elegant summery bustle dress

MALES:

Mr. Snow:

Medium gray sack suit of period with braided coat and derby

Enoch Snow, Jr.:

Sack suit and panama hat like father wore

FEMALES:

Louise:

Repeat white graduation dress

Carrie and Julie:    Repeat

Nettie:

Nice bustle dress, long sleeves, hat little older, more sedate than others

Dancers:

White period graduation dresses

Spectators:

Parents, friends, etc.  dressed in street clothes

MALES:

Heavenly Friend:   Repeat

Billy:                      Repeat

Principal:

Black frock suit, dark striped trousers

Dancers:

Blue serge graduation suits with long trousers, period collars, 4-in-hand ties