This year, the Camille Playhouse is celebrating their 60th anniversary and is currently performing ‘Carrie the Musical.’ If you are looking for an indoor activity this Halloween weekend, consider checking it out on its closing weekend. Upcoming showtimes are Friday 10/27 at 8p.m. and Sunday 10/29 at 2p.m. There will not be a performance on Saturday 10/28. Tickets are $25 for general admission and are available at the box office one hour before the performance, which I recommend to avoid additional fees, or online. I am sure most of us are familiar with the story of Carrie, either the book or the movie, or both. It has become a Halloween staple, but suffice it to say, it does contain adult themes, so it might not be suitable for younger audiences.
‘Carrie the musical’ is adapted from Stephen King’s 1974 horror novel “Carrie” and focuses on an awkward teenage girl with telekinetic powers whose lonely life is dominated by an oppressive religious fanatic mother. She is a teenage outcast who only longs to fit in. At school, she is bullied by the popular crowd and is virtually invisible to everyone else. What none of them know is that Carrie just discovered that she has a special power and if pushed too far, she is not afraid to use it. So when she is humiliated by her classmates at the high school prom, she gets vengeance by unleashing chaos on everyone and everything in her path. Cast includes Renata Treviño, Stephanie Zamora, Abigail Crum, Sebastian Peña, Natalia Garza, Raul Lozano, and Lydia Castillo.
It might be a few years since the world was introduced to Carrie White but her story still resonates with people who see her either as a victim of bullying or a young woman who takes out her rage on those unfortunate enough to be around her. The show begins with Sue Snell (Abigail Crum), a traumatized witness who is recounting the incidents leading up to the tragic night of the prom. The different school mates are introduced, including Tommy Ross (Sebastian Peña) and Chris Hargensen (Natalie Garza) who despite their differences, they just long to fit in “In.” When Carrie (Renata Treviño) experiences her first period in the shower after gym class, it starts off a series of events that lead to the tragedy on prom night when she uses her telekinetic powers and goes on a killing rampage. The cast consists of so much young talent and they handle the show’s tough themes with the grace of a highly experienced cast but Stephanie Zamora’s portrayal of Margaret White, Carrie’s mom, stands out. She manages to humanize her despite her shortcomings and her vocal abilities are first rate. With a minimized setting, which consists of moveable panels that change with the scenes and dark, gloomy lighting, the focus is on Carrie’s sad reality.
Show highlights include Act II, the catchy ‘A Night We’ll Never Forget’ when everyone is excited and getting ready for prom night and the final number ‘Epilogue’ whose poignant message of ‘what does it cost to be kind’ should be a wake up call to how we treat others. The iconic prom scene is well done and the blood curling screams in the dark at the end of ‘The Destruction’ is an excellent touch and will haunt you afterwards. With a book by Lawrence D. Cohen, it has lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and music by Michael Gore and runs for 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission. ‘Carrie the Musical’ is a must see this Halloween season and aside from the spooky aspect, it reminds us of the need to be kind above all.
Camille Playhouse
1 Dean Porter Park Dr
Brownsville, Tx
(956) 542-8900
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