He is a cultured French man. She names herself a little hick. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific (A Chichester Festival Theatre Production) is adapted from the Pulitzer Price-winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener.
It tells the story of an American Nurse named Nellie (Gina Beck) who is stationed on a South Pacific island during World War Two. Nellie falls head over heels in love with a middle-aged expatriate French plantation owner named Emile de Becque (Julian Ovenden). Before discovering that he has two children Ngana and Jerome from a previous relationship with their sadly departed mother, a Polynesian lady. Nellie, shocked that he has two children who are mixed-race, makes her excuses to leave.
As a show created in 1949, when racism was more rife, it is great that Rodgers & Hammerstein were pushing boundaries and fighting for racial equality by producing a show that sends a strong progressive message on racism. I don’t want to spoil the whole story for you if you’re unaware of it, but let’s just say the racial bias is stamped out by the end.
Nellie and Emile are not the only relationship within this show. U.S Marine Lieutenant Joseph Cable (Rob Houchen) and Liat (Sera Maehara) a young Tonkinese woman fall in love. But Lieutenant Cable explores his fears of how he would be treated should he marry his Asian sweetheart. Liats mother, Bloody Mary (Joanna Ampil) knows the consequences of Lieutenant Cable marrying her daughter and offers to earn money to pay for them to live and survive so he doesn’t need to work.
The issue of racial prejudice is explored through the whole of the musical, most controversially in the lieutenant’s song, “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” sung by two of the strongest vocals of the evening, Emile de Becque (Julian Ovenden) and Lieutenant Cable (Rob Houchen).
Vocals and musical score are what really hold this performance as its own. Strong in both areas. Phenomenal operatic voices with Julian Ovenden providing his brilliant tenor voice. I believe it is the soundtrack and message on stamping out racial prejudice that ensures this is a production that has been running for over 70 years. I reckon everyone who watched the show last night, has “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair” stuck in their head today. I know I’m having a good sing along to it.
The staging wasn’t as spectacular as I had hoped for. But it was cleverly created using corrugated steel like backgrounds, wooden pallet style flooring and a moving floor. I feel as the scenes of the palm trees and beach were projected onto the corrugated steel, that we were to realise how trapped the people felt on the island. And I quite liked the water from the showers. I don’t know how the cast performed so well with what I guess was cold water landing on them.
The live orchestra were brilliant. And although not on show to the audience (they were performing live out of sight) they really deserve recognition for being so fabulous.
The show had a strong cast who should all be proud of their efforts. Luther Billis (Douggie McMeekin) was brilliant and all the Seabee’s. The choreography was smooth and if you’re a fan of opera singing, love a show with a strong message and are partial to a love story or two. This is the show for you.
South Pacific is at The Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 1st October. Book your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/south-pacific/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/