Just being in a theatre after such a period of darkness was enchanting enough, and much appreciated by the Chichester faithful. The front of house staff held the balance of safety and comfort and positive experience perfectly.
South Pacific premiered in 1949 on Broadway and became an immediate hit running for just under 2,000 performances. The plot centres around an American nurse, Nellie Forbush who is stationed on a South Pacific Island during World War Two. She falls in love with a middle aged ex-pat French man, (Emile) who owns a plantation on the island. Forbush struggles to accept his mixed-race children from his first wife.
There is a secondary romance between Lt. Cable and an Island woman. The fears and the social consequences of both relationships are candidly observed. And this reimagined new production from CFT Artistic Director Daniel Evans refuses to flinch from the show’s relevance and at times awkwardness for a 2021 audience. Evans goes from strength to strength as an accomplished director of musical theatre. The sensitivity of the piece is epitomised in Lt. Cable’s ant-racist number “You’ve got to be carefully taught” delicately and indeed beautifully observed by Rob Houchen.
Peter McKintosh’s set is an engaging clash of idyllic island and corrugated US Army prefab, with some additional lighting delights included, particularly when crossing over to Bali Ha’i, which also allowed for another turn for the theatre’s revolving stage, which was made much use of throughout our time on the Island.
The orchestral arrangements for some of Rodger’s grandest tunes were at times wonderfully extravagant and filled the auditorium with ease. As did Julian Ovenden as a persuasive and credible Emile. His swooping and legitimate vocals in “Some Enchanted Evening” was a celebrated peak. Gina Beck brought stamina and plenty of zip to Nellie, as did Keir Charles to Luther Billis.
The care and production values, together with Rodgers and Hammerstein approaching their creative summit added to the delight of being sat in the stalls after so long away. Worthy of a visit to the lovely city of Chichester or indeed a deserved wee transfer to the West End.
If not do please consider the streamed performances direct to your front room.
4,14,18, and 21 August at 2.30pm
9,26,31 August at 7.30pm
3 September at 7.30pm
Details from the CFT Website.
**** Four stars
“Wonderfully Extravagant “ – David Robinson from Box Office Radio.
Presenter of The Musical Magazine Show, every Thursday at 8pm.