BWW Reviews: Glorious SOUTH PACIFIC at MTW

South Pacific/book by Oscar Hammerstein II & Joshua Logan/

music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II/directed & choreographed by Joe Langworth/MTW (Musical Theatre West), Long Beach/through March 8

Like The King and I, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific is a heartbreaking, yet uplifting story told across racial borders ... with an elegant score. The look in its rich set design with an incredible, dreamlike Bali Ha'i in the background, setting the romantic tone for the entire show, adds lovely detail to the current production at MTW, Long Beach. This production is marvelous with great direction and a sensational cast.

Joe Langworth proves a sturdy director/choreographer and has remained faithful to the 2008 Tony winning Broadway revival. The small-town simplicity of Nellie (Alessa Neeck) and European charm of Emile De Becque (Christopher Carl) surprisingly click together with romantic sparks flying until racial issues come to the fore. Yet, the dynamic tensions that result create even more electricity, and we never stop rooting for them. We also want Lt. Cable (Patrick Cummings) and Polynesian Liat (Cailan Rose) to have a crack at marriage, but unfortunately the fates do not allow it. Along with the leads there are a bevy of supporting players who capture our attention like Luther Billis (Spencer Rowe), a practical joker and con man who is every bit as savy as crafty islander Bloody Mary (Jodi Kimura) who tries to have her way with the sailors in command...which brings us to the sailors, the background artists who contribute so very much to this production. Langworth deliciously choreographs the sailors in "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" and Nellie and her gal navy corps in "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair". The background people like the island itself all become leading players in South Pacific, showing us a sense of pride and new-found community.

Just a brief note about the hair washing...technically, this scene would work better - there's a weak flow, a mere trickle, of water here - if Nellie were not wearing a wig, but had cut her hair short, so that she could wet and lather it more believably. I've seen it done and it's sheer delight.

This glorious cast - all excellent singers - is headed by Alessa Neeck as Ensign Nellie Forbush and Christopher Carl as cultured Frenchman Emile de Becque. Neeck is adorable and appropriately perky and convincing in making Nellie's conflicting emotions transparent at every moment. Carl is handsome, suave and is graceful in every move he makes. Cummings gives Lt. Joseph Cable an edge of dissatisfaction/despair that is palpable. One can sense his love for Liat and feel his desire for change. Rowe as Luther Billis is less raw and aggressively overbearing, as I've seen it played before, but he brings an ordinary, down.to.earth funny 'guy next door' quality to it, making Billis ultimately likable. Kimura is a powerful, quietly desperate Bloody Mary with a lovely voice. Hats in the air as well to Tom Shelton as Captain Brackett and to the entire chorus with standouts Chaz Feuerstine, Peter Hargrave, Chris Holly and Cole Coumo for their vibrant masculinity and humor as the sailors.

As with every R & H musical, the music contains some of the most beautiful songs ever written, such as "Some Enchanted Evening", "Younger Than Springtime", "Cockeyed Optimist", "This Nearly Was Mine", "Carefully Taught" and "I'm In Love with a Wonderful Guy". I was more riveted this time around to "This Nearly Was Mine" for its strong depiction of what love is really about, and to "...Carefully Taught" for its recognition of what exists but should not. The next to last scene on the beach with the soldiers leaving the island, marching to the tune of "Honey Bun" followed by the quiet and heartfelt return of de Becque to his family are brilliant images that stay in the mind long after leaving the theatre. Bravo to the cast and crew of South Pacific and to MTW for a scintillating production.

"Honey Bun"

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