By Marilyn Jozwik
I have always been a Rodgers and Hammerstein fan. Perhaps the most recognizable of their musicals’ tunes have come from “Oklahoma,” “The Sound of Music” and “South Pacific.”
While I have seen a number of R&H musicals on community theater stages, I’d never seen “South Pacific.” The last stage version I’d seen was in 1973 at the Melody Top Theater, a summer venue on Milwaukee’s north side from 1963 to 1986.
Forte Theatre Company has taken on this ambitious project with impressive results. Perhaps more than any other musical, “South Pacific’s” music is recognizable and the audience can immerse themselves in its familiarity. And Forte certainly executed the music beautifully, making this a treat with eyes closed. But the broad scenes of tropical beaches made this a feast for the eyes as well. Randall Dodge directs.
The World War II story is set on a small island in the South Pacific where a group of sailors is waiting for orders to take on the Japanese. Nurse Nellie Forbush (Megan Rose Miller) has fallen in love with the mysterious, older and wealthy plantation owner Emile DeBecque (Randall Dodge), who hastily left his native France as a young man to start a new life on this remote and beautiful island.
Also after Nellie’s heart is Seabee Luther Billis (Matthew Umstot), whose boredom sets him on adventures that often get him in trouble.
Luther Billis (Matthew Umstot) leads his fellow Seabees in the rousing “There is Nothing Like a Dame” in a scene from Forte Theatre Company’s “South Pacific.”
When the handsome lieutenant Joseph Cable (Josh Pope) arrives on the island, De Becque is asked to accompany him on a dangerous mission. Cable is lured to the mystical island of Bali Ha’i after a local entrepreneur, a native woman nicknamed Bloody Mary (Sheila Gimenez), sings of its allure. There he meets and falls in love with Bloody Mary’s daughter, Liat. (Heather David).
Running through the show is the prevalence of prejudice that the dark-skinned natives face. From Little Rock, Arkansas Nellie is shocked to learn De Becque once had a relationship with a local woman and has two dark-skinned children from the relationship. She cannot understand her own feelings of prejudice, but knows they are what she learned growing up. Cable too wrestles with his own feelings and realizes they stem from his upbringing as he sings “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.”
This is a great cast with wonderful performances throughout. Director Dodge does double duty as the French expatriate De Becque. His rich, full bass voice lends itself beautifully to the familiar “Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine.”
Bloody Mary (Sheila Gimenez) celebrates the relationship of her daughter Liat (Heather David) and Lt. Joseph Cable (Josh Pope).
Miller is full of spunk and down-home charm accentuated by a convincing Arkansas accent, as the love-struck Navy nurse. She offers top-notch versions of tunes made famous by Mary Martin (the original Nellie on Broadway) such as “A Cockeyed Optimist,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “I’m in Love With a Wonderful Guy.”
Perhaps the most elegant moments come from Pope as Lt. Joseph Cable. His “Younger Than Springtime” is lighter than air and allow his falsetto to rest effortlessly on the gorgeous high notes.
Gimenez provides much of the show’s comedy with her portrayal of Bloody Mary. Her heavily accented English offers lots of opportunities for laughs while her peddler character engages in flirtatious and sarcastic banter with the Seabees.
As Captain George Brackett, William Molitor is sufficiently gruff, while Dan Kerkman as Commander William Harbison is equally well cast. Kerkman uses an antique cane in the show that was donated to Forte Theater for its first production in 2019.
Ensign Nellie Forbush (Megan Rose Miller) decides to end her relationship with Emile De Becque and leads her fellow nurses in “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” in a scene from Forte Theatre Company’s “South Pacific”
Umstot heads the rowdy bunch of Seabees. The group of seven provides a rousing, robust “There Is Nothing Like a Dame” as their bored characters pace restlessly, dramatizing their women-less lot. The Navy men and women were not allowed to mingle.
The nurses do their share of frolicking as well and are especially fun to watch in the Thanksgiving Follies “Honey Bun” number where assistant director Karl Miller’s snappy choreography is featured.
Music director/conductor Jim Van Deusen leads a seven-piece orchestra that filled out the memorable R&H tunes nicely and kept a good balance with the vocals. Included in the orchestra is Julie Fraleigh, whose harp lent a lovely, ethereal quality to tunes like the haunting “Bali Ha’i.”
On opening night, sound was somewhat of an issue with brief portions unmiked or with mikes being activated a word or two late. Not a big distraction, but something that should be cleaned up in subsequent performances.
The show is on the long side – 2 hours and 45 minutes – and did seem to lag at times. Nonetheless, this version is a fitting representation of one of Broadway’s longest running shows.
As a side note: Several members of the cast honored relatives who had served in the military in their biographical notes. Also, after the show, donations were collected to support military veterans through Honor Flights.
If you go:
Who: Forte Theatre Company
What: “South Pacific”
When: Through Oct. 19
Where: Saber Center for the Performing Arts, 8222 S. 51st St., Franklin
Info/Tickets: ForteTheatreCompany.org/414-366-3634