Those who remember the songs from the original 1949 Rogers and Hammerstein musical or the 1958 film adaptation that have become classic hits will get goose bumps when the overture begins to play in this revival of South Pacific at the Buell Theatre in Denver. The score and the story about love, war and prejudice are riveting.

The golden bass-baritone voice of Metropolitan opera star David Pittsinger as Frenchman Emile de Becque steals the show with "Some Enchanted Evening" in the first scene and leaves the audience craving for more. You feel his pain when he sings an emotional "This Nearly Was Mine," and rejoice with him at the final "Dites-Moi."

Reprising Mary Martin's perky nurse role is Carmen Cusack as an absolutely adorable Nellie Forbush. Her rendition with the female chorus of "I'm Going to Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" in a shower with real running water and suds is a show-stopper. Ditto for Billis and the male Seabees belting out "There Is Nothin' Like a Dame." Matthew Saldivar's Luther Billis adds the comedic touch with his Jersey accent and perfect timing.

The frequent set changes never leave the beautiful background of the Pacific Ocean, and a couple of the scenes depict the dreamy outline of the island Bali Ha'i. Remember the haunting ballad Bali Ha'i? Keala Settle playing the enterprising island mama Bloody Mary sings it lovingly.

The story is amazingly as relevant today as it was when it opened on Broadway 61 years ago. We are engaged in a war and we have mixed-race leader. The second act explores both issues. Listen carefully to the words in "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught," sung by Anderson David as Lt. Joseph Cable, a Princeton graduate who cannot deny his prejudice despite falling in love with an island woman. "You've got to be taught to hate all the people your relatives hate. . ." It's a poignant moment in the play. Even Arkansas-born Nellie can't bring herself to accept her lover's mixed-race children.

Don't miss this play! It continues at the Buell Theater through August 1.

To order tickets, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303-893-4100, stop by TicketsWest outlets at all King Soopers stores or buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org. For more information on the play, visit www.SouthPacificOnTour.com.