By Ashley Ragone
Staff Writer
TCNJ Musical Theatre delivered a dark and emotionally charged performance to the stage with their latest production, “Carrie: The Musical.”
Based on Stephen King’s 1974 novel, the show discusses themes of isolation, religious oppression and the supernatural. The musical centers around Carrie White, played by sophomore elementary education and English double major Megan Hurley, a shy high school student whose growing telekinetic powers and pressure from her God-fearing mother outcast her from her peers.
Her only solace from the mean-spirited bully Chris, played by junior elementary education and music double major Ella Osbeck, comes from her sympathetic friend Sue — until Carrie commits the ultimate act of revenge during their senior prom.
Through striking red lighting that mirrors Carrie’s increasingly fragile mental state and the powerful vocals of the cast, the show truly brings audiences into the heart of the horror story.
The show is told through the interrogation of Sue Snell, played by junior accounting major Ella Malatesta. Malatesta’s character narrates the show, sharing flashbacks to her experiences with Carrie while recounting the events leading up to prom night, foreshadowing the atrocities committed.
“Sue is an extremely dynamic character…It took a lot of time for me to define the contrast between the bubbly, popular, teenage Sue in the high school scenes versus the still, emotionally stunted Sue in the interrogation scenes,” Malatesta said.
Differentiated with her hair, we see the carefree, high school Sue with her hair down and loose, and the older, traumatized Sue with her hair clipped and tense, fitting her demeanor.
The show’s narrative is also told through the ensemble. Other high school students who taunt Carrie while also facing their own insecurities in secret. Through the song “In,” the audience sees their social anxieties come to light as the ensemble echoes, “And I worry / What if I stand out one bit? / I worry / What can I possibly do to fit in?”
For Jeneily Ruano, a freshman early childhood education and Spanish double major, this program allowed her to finally find the home that her character Frieda and others are searching for. Through joining the program and acting in her first TMT production, the experience was “beyond welcoming” after she first “really struggled to find [her] place.” When asked about her favorite part of the show so far, Ruano said she has enjoyed “all the choreography and the dance numbers” along with the TMT members she worked alongside.
Malatesta noted as well how “having a smaller cast made each rehearsal more intimate and gave us all the opportunity to create strong bonds.”
The emotional climax of the musical takes place during the iconic scene “The Destruction,” where Carrie is crowned prom queen after a rigged election, and Chris drenches her in pig’s blood in front of all her classmates. Humiliated and enraged, she takes revenge on everyone through murder by telekinesis.
The scene was stunning and executed exceedingly well considering the constraints of a small theater, with each character’s death unfolding in a dramatic and chaotic fashion. The blood-stained Carrie has now descended into a full psychotic state.
Under the direction and stylistic choices of TMT president and “Carrie” director Alyssa Hemsey, a senior communication studies major, the production came to life beautifully. She shared that the final scenes, particularly “Destruction,” were her favorite part of the show to work on, as they brought a “moment of reflection for the audience” as we realize the gravity of Carrie White’s actions.
The fact that TCNJ Musical Theatre is entirely student-led adds a layer of uniqueness and pride for those involved.
“There’s something so surreal about watching your visions translate to the stage being magically brought to life,” Hemsey said. “TMT allows for students to build upon their leadership skills through their talents, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch peers come together for their shared passion of theater.”
“Carrie: The Musical” stands as a testament to the talent, creative drive and endless dedication of the TCNJ Musical Theatre program. With powerful performances, effective visual aids and an emotional narrative, the production not only pays homage to the original text but infuses the nuanced creativity of the College’s students.
