Stephen King's twisted classic 'Carrie' will debut in Queensland in the form of a bloody musical.
Originally released as a novel in 1974, 'Carrie' is a chilling and disturbing thriller that has been adapted on a number of occasions for screen and stage. These have all been met with differing reviews, but audiences are always drawn back to the taunted and terrified girl. Misunderstood and seemingly innocent, Carrie White is played by talented young actress Sophie Perkins in the musical that will be showcased in Brisbane.
“You fall in love with her before she kills everyone. It's wonderful how music can break down that barrier and get people on side,” Sophie says. The story allows you to side with the protagonist, making you feel sorry for her as she struggles to fit in at school. She has an overbearing mother to contend with at home and her story can easily be related to.
Sophie Perkins“There is so much in the news about kids who are bullied resulting in suicide but ultimately this girl has some remarkable power and she is quite sheltered and she isn't worldly. When she discovers that she has this amazing power I think she does what everyone wishes they could do to all of those people who have caused their lives griefs. And she is ruthless. But ultimately it's just a girl standing up for herself and I think everyone loves the down trodden and seeing them rise.”
Although Carrie is ruthless in her revenge, the story makes you empathise with her situation. She is somewhat unaware of her ability and only uses it when she is angered. “She is not actually doing it to be cruel it's just something that comes over her that heightens her emotions. She can't always control it. I think it is kind of sad actually. That people drive her to such a point that she feels such intense emotions and that this happens as a result. Because it doesn't just happen if she is a little bit upset. She has to go the full hog to get there.”
With music from Academy Award winners Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore (the musical geniuses behind such hits as 'Fame'), together with original writer Lawrence D. Cohen (known also for 'It' and 'South Pacific'), 'Carrie’s Broadway season shocked critics and audiences alike when it debuted almost 27 years ago. Today, it retains all of that shock-value. “It is definitely going to be confronting. It is going to be real. The audience are very much going to be a part of it and it's going to be hard for them to turn away.”
The first film was released in 1976 and became such a cult classic over the years that it was re-made in 2013 and starred Chloe Grace Moretz as Carrie and Julianne Moore as her mother. All the classic scenes are in the stage production including the famous blood scene at the end of the story. “I know that scene is still being discussed but I also know that Zoe (Director) is trying to make it as real as she can and she is on a mission to give the audience everything they want to see and more. She doesn't want them to be cheated of anything but they are working really hard to make it everything that people want it to be.
“In terms of how much blood, I will have to get back to you on that one.”'Carrie: The Musical' performs Brisbane Powerhouse 20-31 January.
