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| Seabees singing 'There Is Nothin' Like A Dame'. Photo Credit: Simon Annand |
"There Is Nothin' Like A Dame"; or a man in uniform, for that matter- & South Pacific covers both bases with gusto.
Set on
an island in a Polynesian cluster
near the Solomon Islands against a backdrop of the Second World War
& Japan's attempts at military advancement towards Australia;
South Pacific is an
upbeat window on the antics of the inhabitants of a remote U.S Army
base juxtaposed with poignant, touching moments & a dark
undercurrent of the serious issue of racism.
At the forefront of the narrative are two developing love affairs- that of couples with individuals from very different backgrounds, yet their stories prove that love can transcend even the most difficult of apparent boundaries. The first is the relationship between Emile de Becque, a French national & plantation owner who lives on the island, & Nellie, a U.S ensign & nurse. The second, that of the romance that Lieutenant Joseph Cable of the U.S Army seconded to the island & Liat, a polynesian girl native to the South Pacific share.
Emile (Matthew Cammelle) is a strong character with an intriguing, fairly closed past. Cammelle is superb & completely convincing in this role- an unfaltering accent & stage presence, & superb, committed delivery of his songs. Nellie (Rebecca Thornhill) is a fun-time beauty from a small town in Arkansas, who comes to the island with, initially, a small-town mindset, and takes a journey in overcoming her taught prejudice over the course of the show. Thornhill is initially fairly unengaging- whilst executing all her numbers with poise & accuracy, one feels there is an element of magic or real believability about her portrayal lacking. However, by the second half, when the show takes a faster pace, she appears much more entwined with the character, & reclaims the real essence of Nellie with vigour.
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| Alex Ferns as Luther Billis. Photo credit: Simon Annand |
Not forgetting the emotive and powerful representation of the young Lt Cable by Daniel Koek, that is reminiscent in parts of Gordon McRae's portrayal of Billy in the film from the same creative stable, Carousel.
Not forgetting the emotive and powerful representation of the young Lt Cable by Daniel Koek, that is reminiscent in parts of Gordon McRae's portrayal of Billy in the film from the same creative stable, Carousel.
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| Daniel Koek as Lt Cable & Elizabeth Chong as Liat. Photo Credit: Simon Annand |
The ensemble present much of the well known numbers such as Bloody Mary and I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair like a slick well-oiled machine, and one can be forgiven for thinking that they have stepped straight from the celluloid of Rogers & Hammerstein's original screen version, such is their compelling, cohesive, punchy execution of their numbers. The cast playing the marines excel particularly; notably Stephen John Davis (Seabee) (Phantom, Les Miserables)- watch out especially for his excellent solo delivery aboard the on-stage 'plane of the infamous end line in There Is Nothin' Like A Dame - demonstrating great vocal-range & voice-control, & is exceedingly entertaining to boot!
The set is fairly simple in design, yet has a real feeling of depth, perspective, and realism. Every scene change successfully transports the audience to the different scenarios, without question, and is completed swiftly & deftly. The lighting is atmospheric and appropriate; and the sound is perfectly set according to each scene/performer and has clarity second to none, fully enriching the enjoyment of the show.
South Pacific is a must-see- a roller-coaster ride of themes and emotions that will have you humming the well-loved songs all week, and leaving the theatre with a broad smile on your face.
Book by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II &
JOSHUA LOGAN
Music: RICHARD
ROGERS ; Lyrics: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN IIAdapted from the Pulitzer-prize winning novel Tales From The South Pacific by JOSHUA LOGAN
Please visit Theatre Royal Plymouth or SouthPacificOnstage.com for more information.
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