A modern take on an old favourite?
Just back from Sadler’s Wells and South Pacific (the Chichester Festival production).
This is in many ways a difficult musical for today. Not only are WWII US sailors and engineers (Seabees) not notoriously feminist in outlook (‘There is nothing like a dame’) but a main plot hinge assumes a natural dislike of miscegenation amongst white Americans (which is then, sort-of, overcome).
The way round this is to portray both the women, and the Polynesians (and the women Polynesians) as strong and worthwhile, or indeed impressive, characters – so that Rogers & Hammerstein’s 1949 sensibilities can be seen through 2022’s lens. This is no way detracts from the strength of the book, lyrics or music – indeed it might be seen to improve on them. In particular Bloody Mary takes on a more influential and even respectable role, and Ensign Nellie Forbush gains perhaps even more agency.
Overall this is a well directed piece, the chorus are asked to stay in character – which means they dance and sing like Seabees and nurses and not Chorus Line – but this works, and the principals, Julian Ovenden as Emile De Becque and Gina Beck as Ensign Forbush sing magnificently, especially Ovenden who got a standing ovation at his curtain.
Most of the famous songs are in the first half (actually two-thirds in his production) – with mainly reprises in the second half apart from Emile’s operatic ‘This nearly was mine’. The theatre was not full, despite good crits, so it is possible to get to see it. (Not any longer!)