I've now seen Caroline, or Change, six times in all - three in its original production by George C Wolfe, in each stage of its progress from off-Broadway's Public Theatre in 2003 to Broadway's O'Neill Theatre in 2004, then London's National Theatre in 2006 (where it won the Olivier for Best New Musical); and three in Michael Longhurst's new British revival, launched at Chichester's intimate Minerva last year, then transferring to Hampstead Theatre and now the West End's Playhouse... Read more
Following sold-out runs in Chichester and at the Hampstead Theatre, the brilliant Sharon D Clarke reprised her role in Tony Kushner’s ‘modern masterpiece’, Caroline, or Change.
Based loosely on Kushner’s life, Caroline, or Change is set in Louisiana in the 1960s where Noah is struggling with the death of his mother, and his father’s remarriage to her best friend. He spends his time with their maid, Caroline, who works in the family’s basement. Caroline, who has a family dependant on her, faces a moral dilemma when a novel opportunity to fund her family presents itself.
Sharon D Clarke is known for her television role in BBC drama Holby City, and on stage has starred as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You and Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical. Her performance in Caroline, or Change has been described as “a privilege” to watch.
Click here to read our five star review of Caroline, or Change, which ran in London at the Hampstead Theatre in March 2018.
The production is directed by Michael Longhurst, whose production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus was revived at the National Theatre this year, and has music by Jeanine Tesori which draws on Jewish, African American and classical influences.
The musical opened Off-Broadway in 2003 before transferring to the Great White Way the following year, and premiered in London in 2006 at the National Theatre, and won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It was directed by George C Wolfe, and starred Tonya Pinkins as Caroline.
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Our Review of Caroline, or Change
When New York Times critic Ben Brantley reviewed the world premiere of Caroline, or Change at New York's Public Theatre in 2003, he almost damned it not so much with faint praise but with over-praise, declaring that "in truth, it is almost too good to be good." He then dug the knife into its considered and considerable achievements by declaring that it "might be regarded as the brooding person's Hairspray." Ouch! Read more