How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
#1How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 3:12am
I haven't read much about Trevor Nunn's production of SOUTH PACIFIC at the National Theatre. It starred Lauren Kennedy as Nellie. It seems odd they chose her for a London production, anyone know why they went with her and not a West End performer?
And for those who have seen the current Broadway revival, how do they compare?
Also, how is the cast recording? Is it worth ordering?
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=135&dspl=reviews
Updated On: 6/8/08 at 03:12 AM
#2re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 3:14amwould loved to have seen this production.
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#2re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 4:24am
Despite the quotations on the National's website my recollection is that it got mixed reviews. It didn't transfer to the West End and so I assume (I didn't see it) that Trevor Nunn was on the downward slope into The Woman in White, Porgy and Bess and now Gone With the Wind.
Edward Baker Duly as Cable sounds great on the above CD, as he subsequently would do in the Bridewell's Anyone Can Whistle and he's also the only thing worth seeing in Gone With the Wind (as Ashley Wilkes). Philip Quast picked up one of his Oliviers as Emile de Becque.
I would have thought of all the R&H catalogue this was the most likely to benefit from the National Theatre treatment but seemingly not. I really like the CD and it's my South Pacific of choice but as I've begun to post regularly on this board and become more and more familiar with the different values between Broadway and the West End (and become more and more baffled by them) I wouldn't know whether to recommend it or not.
#3re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 5:07amIt's abit unfair to say Trevor Nunn's work were goin a downward slope cuz you totally missed out his success of Anything Goes and Acorn Antiques, both brilliant. Though I have to say... WiW and GWTW were both horrid !!!
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#4re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 5:20am
I didn't see this one, but I do have and adore the cast recording. I don't know where the National got Lauren Kennedy from, but they're not really shy about casting internationals in their shows, for which I'll forever be grateful after seeing 'Caroline, Or Change'. ^_^
I believe they rearranged the structure of the show a little, so the tracks on the CD are in a different order to how they normally would be. I don't know where I got that info from or if it's considered a massive problem, but there it is.
As far as I'm concerned, you can't beat Philip Quast singing 'This Nearly Was Mine'. But then, I am a massive Quast fangirl. XD
Is there ANYONE who owns both this recording and the Broadway revival one? Srsly, I'd LOVE to know how they compare, side by side, before I decide if I can justify buying the revival recording or not. (It's a matter of timing really; I'm unemployed at the moment, but I'll buy it now if it compares favourably, whereas if there ain't *that* much in it, I'll wait until I have a paycheck.)
EDIT: I disagree with Scrippsy that Edward Baker Duly is worth watching in 'Gone With The Wind' though. I don't know if it was just because Ashley Wilkes is a walking penis or what, but I didn't enjoy him in GWTW at all. But that's irrelevant; it was difficult to find ANYTHING to enjoy about GWTW. XD
Updated On: 6/8/08 at 05:20 AM
#5re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 6:22am
"Is there ANYONE who owns both this recording and the Broadway revival one? Srsly, I'd LOVE to know how they compare, side by side,"
I'd love to know too. If I were to be in New York anytime soon South Pacific would be top of my list to see.
#6re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 6:30am
Tha National Theatre production of SP was outstanding - certainly on a par with the current staging at Lincoln Center. It was also very interesting and unique in that Nunn altered the structure of the Book - opening with the scene on the beach with "Bloody Mary" & "There Is Nothing Like A Dame", and Cable's arrival, etc. and then moving to the original opening scene between Nellie and De Becque ("Cockeyed Optimist", "Some Enchanted Evening").
Also "Happy Talk" was cut, "This Nearly Was Mine" was moved from the "backstage" scene during the show for the troops to a scene with De Becque and Cable during their mission on the Japanese occupied island - and a duet between Cable and De Becque ("Now Is The Time"), which was cut from the show before its Broadway opening, was restored (it came after "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught"). The NT show also inserted "My Girl Back Home" (which was also cut from the original Broadway show) into the same spot it is placed in the movie (after "Honey Bun"), while the new Lincoln Center show puts it mid-way through Act One (where I think it was originally planned to be).
Regarding performances - I thought Philip Quast just had the edge over Paulo Szot while Kelly O'Hara was mariginally superior to Lauren Kennedy (but all 4 were outstanding).
As for your question about why Lauren Kennedy was cast - Trevor Nunn met her during rehearsals for the US tour of "Sunset Boulevard" (in which she played Betty) and was so blown away by her that he offered her the role of Nellie. This is actually the reason why Lauren was not in the New York production of "The Last Five Years" - she originated the role of Cathy in Chicago and was to have played her in NYC but found she could not turn down the opportunity of playing a classic lead at the National Theatre in London.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
Updated On: 6/8/08 at 06:30 AM
#7re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 6:40amGreat stuff bob8rich - thanks for posting!
#8re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 12:22pm
They cut HAPPY TALK!?! Wow.
But thanks for all the info everyone! Very interesting.
#9re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 2:00pm
Happy Talk is definitely on the CD - I've just played it! Maybe it was just recorded for the CD but not in the actual production?
This version definitely has an edge, which is why I reach for it over more traditional interpretations. There is more of a kind of desperation that suggests they're in a war zone, rather than having a great holiday on an exotic island.
#10re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 3:31pm
They cut "Happy Talk"?! What? Why would Ted Sperling let them do that???? That is sacrilegious.
It was also very interesting and unique in that Nunn altered the structure of the Book - opening with the scene on the beach with "Bloody Mary" & "There Is Nothing Like A Dame", and Cable's arrival, etc. and then moving to the original opening scene between Nellie and De Becque ("Cockeyed Optimist", "Some Enchanted Evening").
He took this straight from the misconceived Joshua Logan film, although I can see how some people might prefer opening with "Bloody Mary" which is more upbeat as opposed to the "Cockeyed Optimist"/"Twin Soliloquies"/"Some Enchanted Evening" sequence.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#11re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 3:37pm
-- "Happy Talk is definitely on the CD - I've just played it! Maybe it was just recorded for the CD but not in the actual production?"
I was just going to say that, Scripps. I didn't see the production, but there is a photo in the liner notes with the recording that clearly depicts this number, so that would lead me to believe that it was in the show. Regardless, so glad it's on the recording!
I have both this London recording and the new Broadway revival recording. I find both to be must-haves for anyone who has a fondness for "South Pacific". They are each remarkable.
#12re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 5:16pm
First of all, apologies - I'm getting confused in my old age LOL - "Happy Talk" was not cut from Nunn's NT production. It was cut from the 2001 movie.
Speaking of the movie - Rayandallthatjazz, the restructured opening was not taken "straight from the misconceived Joshua Logan film" as you say. Josh Logan directed the 1958 movie, which stuck pretty much to the original stage Book (which Logan directed and co-wrote with Oscar Hammerstein). It was Richard Pearce's 2001 "misconceived" TV movie that played around with the structure of the script.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
#13re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 5:48pm
Ick. This production didn't use the traditional SOUTH PACIFIC overture. They used some prologue. It sounds terrible. I don't know why any production would want to change the show around to be like that GOD AWFUL TV movie.
Anyway. I am so glad the Lincoln Center revival is performing the show as it was originally written. It seems the RNT production tinkered way too much with the script!
Updated On: 6/8/08 at 05:48 PM
#14re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 7:26pmBob8, I was specifically talking about the restructuring of the opening that you mentioned. The Logan film starts with Lt. Cable arriving on the island, the men perform "Bloody Mary" and I wanna say "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" and "Bali Ha'i" also play before they cut to Nellie and Emile.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#15re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 7:29pmI don't know about "Bali Ha'i" coming before we see Emile and Nellie, but Ray is right about "Bloody Mary" and "Dame." I purchased this CD last night and I am looking foward to listening to it. I love me some Philip Quast!
migioso
Chorus Member Joined: 5/29/03
#16re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/8/08 at 10:18pm
Haven't posted much before, but thought I'd add my thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed South Pacific at the National as well. It was a different production than most, as other posters have mentioned--much darker and edgier. This angle was highlighted by the playing of actual wartime newsreel footage on scrims during scene changes (if I recall correctly), which made for a vastly different feel than the light and fluid moving-screen set changes in the current production.
I agree with bob8rich's slight preferences of Quast over Szot and O'Hara over Kennedy, though I'm a little more hard pressed to choose in the latter case because the two Nellies were so different as almost to defy comparison, as far as I'm concerned. This really comes through on the two recordings, which I've been listening to side by side in the past couple of days. Kennedy's rendition sort of feels more like a Nellie for our times--a little bit more of a modern articulation/slant, a beltier approach to the songs; O'Hara's take on the songs, on the other hand, seems to me to be impeccably 40's--more understated and with a distinctively historical feel--and transport me in an entirely different way. I envision myself listening alternatingly to these two takes on Nellie depending on my mood; as for deBecque, I still tend to choose Brian Stokes Mitchell at Carnegie Hall for my default "This Nearly Was Mine" and "Some Enchanted Evening".
#17re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:57am
I have heard some of the recording now. And Lauren sounds too modern as Nellie. She sounds pleasant, but very 21st Century. That's why I love Kelli O'hara, she sounds so old fashioned.
And it sucks that they cut the overture, I cannot fathom cutting that incredible overture.
Quast doesn't have the operatic chops to land his numbers. The role really needs an opera singer or a musical theatre performer who can deliver the numbers operatically (Stokes).
While the tempos might drag a little on the new 2008 recording. They feel too fast on the RNT recording.
Otherwise it's a pleasant recording so far. But I prefer the new 2008 Broadway recording.
Updated On: 6/9/08 at 01:57 AM
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#18re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 3:25amI never understood why it has to be an opera singer? What makes it that way? The vocal quality needed, or the voice type?
#19re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 3:30amWhat I like best about the RNT recording is the restructuring. I like the show a million times better opening with "Bloody Mary", "There's Nothin' Like a Dame" and "Bali Ha'i". I also really like the placement of "My Girl Back Home" in act two and having Emile sing "This Nearly Was Mine" on Marie Louise as well as the inclusion of "Now is the Time". That's my South Pacific. I saw it done this way regionally the first time I saw the show and cannot imagine it any other way. It was a very high energy and emotional evening that I will never forget and a lot of that came from just re ordering a few of the songs. I was very surprised. I wish the current revival had gone ahead and used these alterations. I think it aids in the show not feeling quite so dated.
bwaybabe2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/5/08
#20re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 3:49am
Cats...I like your arrangement of songs, especially "This Nearly Was Mine', a better fitting song, and, well, just better...
Not sure about putting "There's Nothing Like a Dame" at the beginning, though. Do you think it might be better as a "climax" song? Anyways, it probably has its effect, anywhere you put it, I suppose :)
#21re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 3:54am
Personally, I feel "There's Nothin' Like a Dame" gets lost when it appears in the middle of the first act. I think it works better with the RNT revisions as sort of being the opening number if you consider "Bloody Mary" the prologue. My favorite recording is the Carnegie Hall concert as I like the energy and the tempos are perfect, but I can't listen to it with our rearranging all the songs so it's in the order it was when I first saw the show.
Updated On: 6/9/08 at 03:54 AM
#22re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 6:36am
I must say, I love Kelli O'Hara. She makes me feel good about being a soprano. That is all. ^_^
Dolly_Levi
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/8/04
#23re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/9/08 at 11:33amI heard that the R&H org was not altogether pleased with the way the RNT South Pacific came together, therefore there was never talk of that production coming to the States.
Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward.
Carol Channing
#24re: How was London's South Pacific revival with Lauren Kennedy?
Posted: 6/11/08 at 1:48amI can understand that. I can see why the R&H org wasn't pleased with the production. Too much tinkering of the script and cutting the overture.
