Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell will headline in the upcoming Carnegie Hall concert presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific...
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I can't wait for this, too. Anything Stokes does is going to be brilliant, we all know that.
This makes me happy. Maybe this will spark the first South Pacific revival ever. And these two are perfect for both those roles. Reba will have a nice new take on Nellie. I wish I could see it.
I MUST SEE THIS! REBA WILL BLOW THE ROOF OFF!
Cable? Patrick Wilson?
Mary? Ann Harada?
Reba McEntire as Nellie Forbush?
Well, I don't know... that role is as much an acting role as a singing one... also Reba will have to cut her hair MIGHTY short for "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (unless they omit shower scene in concert version.) :)
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Mary_Ethel - I'm not sure the I'd dismiss Reba so quickly. She has surprised before on a number of fronts - and she's as genuine as the day is long, and that more than anything else is what Nellie needs.
Cant wait for tix to this !!! DW is due that week... can always hire the Oompa Loompas to roll her into the theater, I guess.
Yes, DGrant, but is she ACTRESS enough to pull of Nellie Forbush? A woman torn between prejudice and love? A woman struggling to find out where her values really lie?
I still don't know. . .
Well, she is from the south. (so am I so no bashing to my reponse.
)
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
May_Ethel - one way to find out
And honestly, anybody that can sing the songs she does and infuse them with all that emotion has some sort of deep well to pull from - all it needs is to be tapped.
Since this is a concert version, it doesn't REALLY matter.
But why would Nellie freak out over Emile's 'colored' children when Emile is black?
Interesting challenger, were this a full production.
Emile is French, Robbie. His wife and children are polynesian.
Right...and doesn't she freak out because the kids are not white?
Or am I thinking of the wrong show?
No, you are right. In the show and movie he is French but white. I think Nellie would be turned off by the color of his skin if he was black (before she actually knew him)
I want to state again that it doesn't really matter because this is a concert production.
I just wonder how a director could address the issue in a full production.
One way is by casting a black Nellie...Which shouldn't be too difficult. I know lots of black nellies.
I know that you meant in the show itself, not the concert version
Just wanted to clairfy with everyone else before the 'YOU'RE RACIST...YOU HAVE NO VISION' comments started flying.
i just wet myself reading this news...i must kick myself over and over for having moved to miami. Updated On: 10/13/04 at 07:42 PM
Marquise, I thought YOU'D like this news!
yes Matt_G i had a party in my pants over that one!
LOL!
this looks too tempting to resist...
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
Stokes as De Becque makes complete hash of the racial element in the play and absolutely no sense, concert notwithstanding.
"...also Reba will have to cut her hair MIGHTY short for "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (unless they omit shower scene in concert version.)"
She could always wear a wig...
Also, does Nellie supposed to cut her hair or something in the show? Someone explain to me this "hair" thing.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
It (the racial aspect) is pretty strange, considering the casting. If you read "Tales of the South Pacific", you will see that Nelly's racism is set off by ANY person who is perceived as "non-white". (Reading the novel might not be a bad ideas in any case. I will give you a stronger background into the emotional through-line of the musical)
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