South Pacific at Chichester

[goodlead]

Posted: 8/18/21 at 6:34pm

Have any of you watched this streaming version, and what did you think of it?

The introduction's use of Liat was excellent, but much of the rest of it was up and down, I thought, compared to the Lincoln Center revival.  The actress playing Nellie tried hard, but she lacked Kelly O'Hara's magnetism and was physically less appealing.  As Emile, Julian Ovenden sang magnificently, as always, though his frequent arm gestures were distracting (probably less so in the theater).  The biggest disappointment was the actor playing Cable, who was insipid and not particularly a "saxy man."

There's no way to get around all the exposition in Act 2, and this production handled it as well as it could.

Your thoughts?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/18/21 at 6:57pm

What's a saxy man?

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/18/21 at 7:02pm

A man who plays the saxophone I think?
Not sure how this new take on the role would work..

[goodlead]

Posted: 8/19/21 at 5:13pm

To clarify: Bloody Mary refers to Cable as a "saxy man."  No saxophones involved.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/19/21 at 5:31pm

The actress playing Nelly is currently pregnant. Very pregnant. Sorry you found her “less appealing”.

I thought the production was beautiful, and shouldn’t be compared to LCT’s as they’re very different venues with very different budgets.

I found Ampil’s Bloody Mary to be the real highlight, a darker and more complex Mary than we usually get to see.

Rob Houchen’s Cable is smoldering. He’s very handsome, but he plays Cable darker than most. His voice is beautiful.

To each their own. *shrug* I thought it was terrific.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/19/21 at 6:52pm

The actress playing Nellie tried hard, but she lacked Kelly O'Hara's magnetism and was physically less appealing

Her name is Kelli O'Hara and Gina Beck is equally gorgeous. It's always amusing when men find women "less appealing" when they are visibly pregnant. Ew.



 

Updated On: 8/19/21 at 06:52 PM

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 8/20/21 at 3:19am

Gina Beck and Alex Young are sharing the role due to Beck's advanced pregnancy and the latter will soon take over the role full time. Not that criticising Alex Young's appearance would be fine

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/20/21 at 8:38am

Just watched the first 20 minutes, and WOW. The opening/overture gave me chills all over. 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/20/21 at 11:24am

Sutton Ross said: "The actress playing Nellie tried hard, but she lacked Kelly O'Hara's magnetism and was physically less appealing

Her name is Kelli O'Hara and Gina Beck is equally gorgeous. It's always amusing when men find women "less appealing" when they are visiblypregnant. Ew.



"

Isn’t it just, Sutton? *shaking my head* Gina is beautiful, belly and all. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/20/21 at 12:21pm

Stunning.

[Princeton2]

Posted: 8/21/21 at 12:35am

Attractiveness is subjective, tbh so is magnetism. Its an unpopular opinion but I've never found kelli o hara particularly interesting to watch, lovely voice but just a bit bland. Gina is beautiful and is incredibly talented, still one of the best Christine's and glindas in my eyes, and she is just as great here.

To me this is one of the most perfectly cast shows I've seen in a long time.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/21/21 at 12:50am

Can’t wait to see this. Still hope to see the Lincoln Center broadcast in HD one day.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 8/21/21 at 6:09am

Saw this at Chichester this week. By far the best production of this show, I have ever seen. The Overture & opening is thrilling. Good to see a 'darker' Bloody Mary, more believable.

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 8/21/21 at 9:03am

I find the original post to be gross.

I find this production to be gorgeous.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 8/22/21 at 11:56am

I thought this was a very solid production. There was nothing about it to raise the bar, but it was a satisfying watch. I did think that either Gina was a hair too old, or Julian was a bit too young to make the May/September relationship work, and for the couple jokes about it to land, but that seems to be the case with many productions over the past 20 years or so. In any case, I thought Gina looked radiant, and her Nelly had an underlying fierceness that I really enjoyed. As for Julian, I could listen to him sing me the phone book, and I am certain I would love it.

I really enjoyed Rob Houchen as Lt. Cable. His snottier uppity take on the role worked well, and his voice was great, as always.

Joanna Ampil, who I was looking forward to the most, was my least favorite aspect. Her take on the humor just didn't land for me. She played the role very straight. I don't know if this was her choice, or if it was the choice of Evans. I felt a lot of the same feelings for Kier Charles as Billis. The two roles have some of the best comedic moments, but a lot of those moments just kinda fell flat.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/22/21 at 12:27pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Just watched the first 20 minutes, and WOW. The opening/overture gave me chills all over."

Where’d you watch the first 20 minutes?

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 10:34am

I caught the closing of this yesterday. This was my first time seeing SOUTH PACIFIC and I thought it was glorious! It was top notch in every sense! My only - and very minor - quibble with the production was that Cable was just a little dull at times. Other than that, it was thrilling from start to finish! Alex Young at this point was Nellie full time, and she was wonderful. The scene at the end of act one where she leaves Emile was shocking and painful to watch, she broke my heart on so many levels. It's interesting how you love Nellie from the top of the show, and then that scene slaps you with such disappointment and heartbreak... gah... What a great show, glad I could see it.