By Shari Barrett
For those of us who have always loved musicals, there is one we can point to as the first to pull us into the genre and never let us go. For me, that musical is SOUTH PACIFIC, with book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan (adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener), music by Richard Rodgers, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
My parents took me to see it at a very young age, and then bought the Broadway soundtrack which I wore out from overplaying it while singing all the songs repeatedly. And I can tell you when I was in the audience at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts where this beloved musical is being staged by McCoy and Rigby Entertainment, it was all I could do to NOT sing along with the cast!
Directed by Glenn Casale, with musical direction by Brent Crayon and choreography by Peggy Hickey, this is a lively “South Pacific” which will enchant audiences of all ages. So prepare yourself for an enchanted evening or afternoon as you listen to one the most extraordinary romantic scores featuring “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Younger Than Springtime,” “Bali Ha’i,” “There is Nothin’ Like A Dame,” and “A Wonderful Guy.”
But make no mistake, it is also a deeply felt drama about Americans stationed in a foreign culture during wartime, with prejudice rearing its ugly head when interracial romances with native Islanders challenge long-held beliefs, making it as relevant today when you listen to the heartbreaking words in “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught.”
Centering on the romance developing between naïve Navy nurse Nellie Forbush from Little Rock (lovely and lively Stephanie Renee Wall) and the gloriously handsome French plantation owner Emile de Becque (John Cudia, who you will no doubt be willing to follow to the ends of the Earth), in order for this musical to succeed there must be overwhelming chemistry between the two as well as glorious vocal talent. And these two have it all, so much so that you can literally feel the pull to each other that exists between them from the moment they caught each other’s eye across the room of the Officer’s Lounge on that enchanted evening.
However, I would encourage both directors to allow the actors more hand gestures while singing, rather than just having them stand with hands at their sides, which seemed rather static to me when singing about such a great emotion as love.
But with her traditional Southern upbringing, even the great love she feels for Emile may not survive when Nellie discovers he has two children from his first marriage to a Polynesian woman. Of course, these two are cute as a button, played to perfection by Lucas Jaye and Araceli Prasarttongosoth, two talented children that will steal your heart right along with Nellie’s when she realizes there is nothing more important than loving all people equally.
The same racial issue overtakes Lt. Joseph Cable (Matt Rosell) when he meets and is immediately smitten with Liat (Hajin Cho), the young and beautiful Tonkinese daughter of Bali Ha’i queen bee Bloody Mary (Jody Kimura, who steals every scene she is in with her captivating stage presence). But he has a fiancée back home in Philadelphia waiting for his return, so even though Bloody Mary is sure he is the perfect husband for Liat, Cable turns her down, and along with Emile, heads over to another island to spy on Japanese troops – a suicide mission from which he does not return.
Another star of the show, supported by an entertaining ensemble of soldiers and nurses, is Jeff Skowron as Luther Billis, the wise-cracking laundry and shower proprietor whose main goal is to convince an officer to get him over to Bali Ha’i for the purpose of bringing back native novelties to sell at huge profits to the GI’s, as well as having a chance to mingle with the young Island and French women taken there for safety before the American troops arrived. Skowron is a natural showman, especially when he and Nellie entertain the troops with their rollicking rendition of “Honey Bun” with him comically dressed in a grass skirt and coconut shell bra! I certainly remember this number being my favorite the first time I saw “South Pacific,” and I am sure your kids will remember it fondly throughout their lives as I do.
Kudos to scenic designer Robert Kovach for his enchanting island set which transforms quickly into many locations, enhanced by Jared A. Sayeg’s lighting design which adds natural beauty and amazing highlights during scene breaks to the many palm trees lining the set, and to Mary Folino for her timely costumes that accentuate the feminine appeal of women in the 40s.
“South Pacific” runs through Sunday, May 13 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free. Performances are Wed/Thurs at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $70 and can be purchased at www.lamiradatheatre.com; by calling 562-944-9801 or 714 994-6310.