I’ve heard him say that if Shakespeare were alive today, he would have written musicals, and the South Pacific is one of the few who can raise their head with much ado about nothing, Henry V and The Winter’s Tale.
On a remote island in the South Pacific, a U.S. Navy unit Sipes awaits news of a Japanese invasion. As a romance develops between French expatriates with the past, Émile de Becky (Julian Ovenden voiced in a surgical way) and American nurse/artist Ensign Nellie Forbusch (Gina Beck, who directs Doris Day Jane’s Disaster), troubled forces compete to trade with the islanders led by Bloody Mary (Joanna Ampel).
The growing intimacy between newly arrived Lt. Joseph Keppel (Rob Hochen) and young islander Layat (Sera Maehara) adds another layer to the emotional layers.
Each song constitutes a thrill of appreciation—some enchanted evenings, smaller than springtime, there’s Nothin’ Like A Dame—while issues of mixed race relations, personal sacrifice, and justified murder run through the story like titanium wire.
Each song is beautifully delivered, from big, cheerful group numbers like I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair in the makeshift bathroom and the weirdness of Bali Hai to the devastating correction of racism you have to study and heartbreaking that almost was mine.
Hats off to the entire cast, including Douggie McMeekin as skilled businessman Luther, who brings together Sergeant Bilko and Milo Minderbinder from Catch 22, and dancer Maehara Lyat whose expressive grace conveys oceans of emotion.
When the mood revolves around Emil calling out Indigo’s racism in one word—referring to his deceased Polynesian wife as “Colored”—it’s clear that we’re seeing not only a great show but one of the most brilliantly calibrated musical dramas ever written.
There are heaps of good musicals as well as some great plays. Then there is the South Pacific. If you saw a musical one this year, this must be it.
South Pacific in Sadlers Wells until August 28 (UK and Ireland tour until November 19). the tickets: southpacificshow.com
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