O'Hara returns to close SOUTH PACIFIC; PBS broadcast officially announced

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 2:54pm

Kelli O'Hara will return to SOUTH PACIFIC August 10, through the show's closing on August 22. The Wed., August 18 performance will be seen on PBS.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kelli_OHara_Returns_to_SOUTH_PACIFIC_810_822_20100601

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 2:59pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1004872&dt=56&boardid=1

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:01pm

Am I the only who would have preferred Osnes? I thought she was better than O'Hara, who I found over-praised and quite boring (like I usually do with her).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:02pm

Yes, Adam, you are probably the only one.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:05pm

"Am I the only who would have preferred Osnes?"

No you're not.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:06pm

I preferred Osnes, too.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:08pm

I actually did not like Osnes at all. Never saw it with O'Hara, so I can't compare them.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:09pm

Although I still think Loretta Ables Sayre gave the best performance both times I saw the show.

[rachelbway1011]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:12pm

I saw Osnes and I thought she did a very good job but I've always wanted to see O'Hara in the role and it never worked out so it looks like i'll need to take another trip to the Vivian Beaumont =)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 3:58pm

Or you could just watch the taping now that she will be in it. I am so happy she is closing the show. She is my fave! I don't understand how anyone could find her boring, but to each his own.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 4:48pm

I saw O'Hara somewhat early in her run and saw Osnes just last week. In my opinion television audiences are really missing out.

Wish Morrison was coming back too.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 5:02pm

I liked both Osnes and O'Hara. This is great news.

[rjm516]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 7:39pm

I saw O'Hara early in the run and I thought it was one of the best performances ever. I really loved it and her.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 8:41pm

Oh, fantastic!

[blueroses]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 8:48pm

"Am I the only who would have preferred Osnes? I thought she was better than O'Hara, who I found over-praised and quite boring (like I usually do with her)."

I hated Osnes. LOVED O'Hara and I'll try to catch her again before it closes. It was a wonderful revival and I'm so glad to hear it will be televised!

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 9:07pm

I'm happy to see the two role-originators back for the telecast but I would not have been very disappointed if Ms. Osnes had gotten the chance. I have not seen her in the role but she must be very credible if the producers, after trying her out during Ms. O'Hara's maternity leave, signed her for the rest of the run.

Ms. O'Hara has already ridden this role to the borders of national celebrity (World Series Anthem, National Memorial Day Concert). It seems hard on Ms. Osnes to have to step aside for the last two weeks.

Do the producers just think that Ms. O'Hara is the better Nellie, or that possibly her name recognition will bring more viewers?

[slmlbl]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 9:46pm

Amazing news. though I wish I could see Osnes too.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 9:50pm

Do the producers just think that Ms. O'Hara is the better Nellie, or that possibly her name recognition will bring more viewers?

I think that it's simply that Kelli was nominated for a Tony for the role and received critical acclaim for it, so why not extend the offer. I think it was more a nice gesture that anything involving an agenda. I mean... it's Lincoln Center. They don't exactly do Live at Lincoln Center broadcasts with the hope that it will take in hundreds of viewers.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:07pm

^ I agree.

I liked both O'Hara and Osnes. But I felt O'Hara had a bit more depth to her performance.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:17pm

I thought Osnes was quite good - surprisingly good, in fact - though her voice was a little thin and her acting wooden in spots.

My biggest problem was how young she read compared to Paolo.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:42pm

But shouldn't she read young compared to Paulo? Emile is supposed to be a good 15-20 years older than Nellie.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:44pm

But shouldn't she read young compared to Paulo? Emile is supposed to be a good 15-20 years older than Nellie.

That's what I thought, too. I enjoyed her youthfulness- she played the role with a ton more energy and spunk than O'Hara.

Do the producers just think that Ms. O'Hara is the better Nellie, or that possibly her name recognition will bring more viewers?

I think it's being done as a courtesy to the role's originator. If anything, Osnes is the bigger "name" given that she won a reality show that was broadcast nationally.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:51pm

Which everyone has already forgotten.

I'll always love Kelli O'Hara's performance. She was just was so wonderful. Peppy and heartbreaking and always real, which is something that I appreciate. You really get the sense that O'Hara KNOWS how to be musical. She's totally able to transition into song as seamlessly as possible. That's not to say that I didn't like Osnes. Quite the opposite. I thought she did a terrific job, especially considering she had to convince the audience that she was attracted to David Pittsinger. But I guess there was just something a little extra to O'Hara.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 11:52pm

Osnes was fine, but not way in hell was she better than O'Hara.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/2/10 at 12:29am

I thought O'Hara deserved the Tony that year, so of course I find this news thrilling.

~Steven