Every year I get theatre tickets for the family for Jerry's birthday and somehow whatever show I get is fabulous. This year was no exception. I was able to get house seats for Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific which won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical as well as six others. South Pacific is housed in the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center which is not actually in the theatre district near Times Square but is considered a Broadway-class theatre and shows that play here are eligible for the Tony Awards. The Beaumont differs from traditional Broadway theaters because it's designed as an amphitheatre with a thrust stage which is an open stage that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its upstage. The actors can enter from behind the stage, right or left stage or off each side of the front of the stage into passages that go below a tier of seats known as vomitory entrances. There's not a bad seat in the house. Did I mention we had house seats, sniff. Actually the seating area is not that large, only 1,080 seats which is considered only medium-sized for musicals, but the stage is huge. This is the first Broadway revival of South Pacific since it originally played on Broadway from March 1949 to January 1954 and they could not have picked a more perfect venue. This is the most lavish, beautifully staged production I've ever seen thanks in great part to the theatre itself. Because of the configuration of the stage and the fact that it is a raked stage, meaning the rear of the stage or upstage is at a higher elevation than the front of the stage or downstage. (This is turning into Musical Theatre 101.) Because of the raked stage they were able to create a beach in the background where the cast could run off over the dunes or set up umbrellas and sunbathe or come in off boats. You truly get the feeling you're on a beach. It's brilliant.
Anyway, the gorgeous overture begins and the front of the stage moves back to reveal the orchestra beneath the stage. Then the stage returns towards the audience and there we are in the beautiful open-air home of plantation owner Emile de Becque with two adorable children singing Dites-Moi. They're scooted off by a servant as Emile de Becque and army nurse Nellie Forbush enter. The perfection of the show was not diminished by the fact that Paul Szot who usually plays Emile de Becque (he won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical Revival) was on leave fulfilling some previous operatic commitments. David Pittsinger's rich baritone voice is a joy to behold and he played the part with the necessary elegance, while Broadway favorite Kelli O'hara, plays the army nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas with the contrasting personality of a hick from a small town in the deep South of the US. Two people from different parts of the world and different walks of life who have recently met and are fast falling in love. By the end of the first scene we have already heard "Cockeyed Optimist", "Wonder How it Feels" (twin soliloquys), "Some Enchanted Evening" and a reprise of "Dites-Moi" by the children. So the tone is set, we're off to a good start. It's spectacular.
South Pacific, with book written by Oscar Hammerstein and Josh Logan (which is based on James Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific") tells the intertwining stories of two couples falling in love in the Pacific during WWII with underlying themes of racial and cultural tolerance. There's also the love story of young Lt. Cable and the Pacific Island beauty, Lyat.
South Pacific, with book written by Oscar Hammerstein and Josh Logan (which is based on James Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific") tells the intertwining stories of two couples falling in love in the Pacific during WWII with underlying themes of racial and cultural tolerance. There's also the love story of young Lt. Cable and the Pacific Island beauty, Lyat.
Ben Brantley, chief critic of the New York Times wrote "I know we’re not supposed to expect perfection in this imperfect world, but I'm darned if I can find one serious flaw in this production." And I felt the same way. This revival triumphs with director Bartlett Sher at the helm. The careful attention to detail made everything so perfect, the music, the casting, the acting, the ambiance, the authenticity of the sets and costumes all added up to a breath-taking theatre experience.
Critics said similar things about the original Broadway production. It is considered by many to be the greatest musical of all.
But, although both the original production and this revival are considered near perfection, the 1958 film adaptation fell short. It had many flaws and was considered to be very one-dimensional.
The original Broadway production of South Pacific was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won all of them, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Libretto. It was the only musical production ever to win all four Tony Awards for acting. This production was nominated for eleven Tony's and took home 7 and it's worthy of every award it's been given.
But, although both the original production and this revival are considered near perfection, the 1958 film adaptation fell short. It had many flaws and was considered to be very one-dimensional.
The original Broadway production of South Pacific was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won all of them, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Libretto. It was the only musical production ever to win all four Tony Awards for acting. This production was nominated for eleven Tony's and took home 7 and it's worthy of every award it's been given.
