My Thoughts on SOUTH PACIFIC

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:00pm

The first ever Broadway revival of SOUTH PACIFIC lives up to be quite the theatrical event. With incredible production values, an immensely talented cast, and almost everything working in its favor, only a beleaguered leading lady stands in its way of making the show true perfection.

Lincoln Center has provided plentifully all around on the production side of things. The thirty piece orchestra, conducted by Ted Sperling, sounded absolutely marvelous. What a treat to hear this lush score being played by such a great group of musicians! Sets by Michael Yeargan serve a multitude of functions and are lusciously breathtaking, as are costumes by Catherine Zuber and stunning lighting by Donald Holder.

My only real problem with the production lies in its leading lady, Kelli O'Hara.

Don't get me wrong- O'Hara is perfectly fine as Nellie. She sings like a dream (though she needed to belt and did not at all) and looks absolutely gorgeous, but she registers as nothing more than completely bland and just merely serviceable.

First of all, O'Hara's natural glamour and constant poise make it almost laughable to watch her play a character referred to as "a little 'ol hick" repeatedly throughout the show. She is constantly self-aware, and her seeming resistance to let go and have fun dampers moments where this is absolutely necessary. The "Honey Bun" sequence at the top of the second act, where O'Hara is completely uninspired both vocally and physically, falls completely flat, for example. Her chemistry with Paulo Szot is improving, but there was something lacking there in act one still.

Unfortunately, the problems caused by O'Hara end up robbing the show of its heart. She certainly got better as the show progressed, but she needs to implement some changes to her portrayal for the production to truly soar like it should.

All other members of the cast, though, are nothing less than excellent.

Paulo Szot makes for a commanding and endearing Emile with a booming voice that wrapped gorgeously around standards such as "Some Enchanted Evening" and "This Nearly Was Mine," while Danny Burstein steals the show with his comedic antics as Billis.

Loretta Ables Sayer makes an impressive Broadway debut as Bloody Mary, though I wish her voice would have been a bit more lush and a little less powerful at certain moments. Matthew Morrison is equally as good as Cable, though he too had some vocal issues (except in his case, he needed a little more power.)

The show runs a little long, but overall, Bartlett Sher and his team at Lincoln Center have done a marvelous job at bringing back such a classic and making it resound with relevance in the modern age.

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 05:00 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:14pm

She's a more than adequate singer and dancer, but she's boring. And that's the biggest problem with the show.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:16pm

^^^ I thought this was your thread! I have not seen your reviews lately!

J*

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:17pm

Were you there last night, wicked?

I noticed some issues with Morrison's voice, too. It sounded like he was ill or something.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:19pm

I haven't seen this production yet, but I'm hoping to if I can get there this summer and tickets are available.

Really enjoyed your review!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:19pm

Somethingwicked, your review only confirms my doubts about O'Hara's casting. She IS dull and bland, regardless of excellent vocals. I wonder what the many other leading ladies that were considered for the role would have been like.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:22pm

Wasn't Morrison out recently due to an throat illness (or am I just crazy)?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:29pm

Calvin, I saw the show Wednesday afternoon.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 5:40pm

Morrison was out last week.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 11:22pm

bump.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 12:00am

Paulo Szot can hardly have a "booming tenor" as the man is a baritone...

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 12:15am

The thing about Nellie is, even though people call her a hick, and though she thinks she is a hick, she really represents a different type of person. The biggest overall problem with her was the way Yankeefan put it, bland/boring.