Set on a South Pacific island during World War II, this Tony and Pulitzer-prize winning Rodgers and Hammerstein musical features more than its fair share of musical masterpieces.
From the swooning ‘Some enchanted evening’, to the brilliant big bass and tenor tempo of ‘Nothing like a dame’. Then there’s the Doris-Day-esque charm of ‘Gonna wash that man right out of my hair’, the haunting tones of ‘Bali Ha’i’ and a rendition of ‘Happy Talk’ delivered with surprising sadness.
The singing is exquisite, rousing, accomplished. The acting and choreography is top-notch. There’s comedy and pathos. And the stripped back corrugated iron staging, with a clever circular moving floor, ramshackle laundry and fully-functioning shower sets, plus sounds of the ocean and special effects are a triumph.
Gina Beck brilliantly plays American nurse Nellie who falls in love with French plantation owner, Emile – excellently portrayed by (Julian Ovenden).
Though she’s able to forgive him his troubled past (he murdered a man) Nellie cannot – at first – fight her feelings of prejudice when she discovers he has two children by his late Polynesian wife.
The secondary romance in the story – between Lt Joseph Cable and Bloody Mary’s daughter Liat – highlights similar race prejudice. The Princeton-educated Cable loves Liat but he can’t bring himself to marry her.
The song ‘You’ve got to be carefully taught’ highlights Rodgers and Hammerstein’s desire to expose and combat racial prejudice. Its lyrics tell how no one is born a racist but that racism is taught and learned.
When the musical went on its first tour, it sparked some demands that the song was stripped from the show. But the duo resolutely refused, saying that the song represented why they wanted to do the musical in the first place.
Apart from some slightly uncomfortable viewing – including some racial stereotyping and casual sexism – this musical is a great watch and listen. There’s romance, conflict, and humour, too. Douggie McMeekin as wheeler-dealer Billis is a comic smash and you’ll be veering between humming ‘Some enchanted evening’ and washing that man right out of your hair in the shower for days to come.
South Pacific is at Wales Millennium Centre from 11-15 October. You can book tickets here
Photos by Johan Persson