South Pacific
The annual springtime production by St. Austell AOS
is a firm favourite with local musical theatre fans, while South Pacific is
universally acclaimed as Rodgers & Hammerstein at the top of their game;
mix the two together and you have a winner on your hands.
This cleverly crafted story of love, war, racial tensions and sexual abuse
would seem too dark for a musical even in this day and age, to bring it to the
stage way back in 1949 was both bold and brave.
Filled with such popular songs as There Ain’t Nothing Like a Dame, Bali Hai,
Happy Talk and Younger Than Springtime, this fabulous local company take the
audience on a musical reminder of an horrific time in world history. But this
is not a depressing show, far from it, filled as it is with foot tapping tunes
and absolutely brimming with laughter, the cast carry us on a wonderful
journey.
Director Nick Lawrence, made some fine choices for the leads – Gary Tucker as
Emile De Becque holds us spellbound with his powerful voice while Karen
Mitchell is a natural as Nellie Forbush; Karen’s portrayal of Nurse Nellie is
perfect and her powers as a songstress are breathtaking. Stephanie Housman is a
joy as she takes the role of Bloody Mary by the throat and immerses herself
into the role of the native islander, determined to marry her young daughter to
a marine. New to St. Austell AOS is Ben Warwick-Pothurst and what a find! Ben
plays Luther Billis as if born to the role, he lights up the stage with every
muscle of his being – simply divine. George Turner hits all the right notes as
Lt. Joseph Cable, who falls in love with Bloody Mary’s daughter, but cannot
marry her.
The ensemble cast are terrific, with the male chorus the best I’ve heard in an
amateur production. Rounded off with excellent choreography by Maureen Pascoe
and a terrific orchestra led by powerhouse Anna Minear, South Pacific is a must
see production.