Escape to the "South Pacific" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre - Review

By Audrey Gervasi

What better antidote for the winter blahs than a trip to a warm tropical island filled with exotic and interesting characters, music, dance, nostalgia, drama, suspense, comedy, and romance? Let Rodgers & Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning South Pacific transport you for three hours of pure pleasure.

Written in 1949, South Pacific is generally considered to be one of the greatest musicals in history. It is based on James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1948 novel, Tales of the South Pacific, involving sailors stationed in the South Pacific during World War II. The plot revolves around two romances: one between Ensign Nellie Forbush (Carmen Cusack) and the French plantation owner Emile de Becque (Rod Gilfry), and that of U.S. Marine Lt. Joseph Cable (Anderson Davis) and the Polynesian girl Liat (Sumie Maeda). The musical was ahead of its time in its unflinching condemnation of racial bigotry, which threatens both couples' happiness.
 

So much is wonderful about this virtually flawless production that it is hard to know where to begin.

From the moment you enter the theatre you are transported. The words of James Michener are projected onto an onstage screen: "I wish I could tell you about the South Pacific. The way it actually was. The endless ocean. The infinite specks of coral we called islands. Coconut palms nodding gracefully toward the ocean. Reefs upon which waves broke into spray, and inner lagoons, lovely beyond description. . . " The sweeping overture contains strains of songs that are familiar even to those who have never seen the show: "Bali Ha'i," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Happy Talk," "Younger than Springtime," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair," and "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy," to name a few.   Simple yet effective sets, along with the lighting and the acting make you feel almost as if you really are on a beach in the middle of nowhere. 

All of the vocal performances were top-notch. Carmen Cusack's voice, range and versatility are striking. She delivered "Cockeyed Optimist" and "Honeybun" in a fun pop style, yet brought operatic flair to her duet with Rod Gilfry on "Some Enchanted Evening." And Gilfry's solo rendition of that song literally gave me goose-bumps. His rich baritone is superb. Keala Settle as the larger than life, shrunken-head vending Bloody Mary, stole all of her scenes and brought her own vocal virtuosity to "Bali Ha'i" and "Happy Talk." The ensemble numbers were great fun, beginning with "There Is Nothin' Like a Dame," sung by handsome dancing Seabees, and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair," featuring Nellie and her fellow Navy nurses.
 

In short, this show has it all: exotic locale, great music, beautiful women, handsome men, romance, a bit of mystery, and a message. No wonder it's a classic. Enjoy!
 

South Pacific runs through February 21.

For tickets and information call the Fifth Avenue Theatre at (206) 206.625.1900 / 888.5TH.4TIX or visit http://www.5thavenue.org/show/SouthPacific0910/media.aspx
 

Photos: (top) What's worse in wartime? The boredom or the male-only company? Luther Billis (Matthew Saldivar) represents the complaints of his fellow Sea Bees in the national tour of South Pacific playing at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre Jan 29-Feb 21. Photo: Peter Coombs.

(left) Plantation owner Emile De Becque (Rod Gilfry) and Nurse Nellie Forbush (Carmen Cusack) share an enchanted evening in the national tour of South Pacific playing at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre Jan 29-Feb 21. Photo: Peter Coombs