South Pacific, the Broadway revival...

[shermanslave]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 7:47am

...has not happened ever. Why is that? Isn' t it time? I saw a production in Denver years ago that was a very dark version of the show. It focused heavily on the race relations and the war. It would be intersesting to see a big B'way revival of the classic show.

Who would we cast? And please, let's think of someone other than Kristen Chenoweth for Nellie Forbush. And Sutton is too tall.
come to the cabaret, my friend

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 7:48am

Updated On: 5/10/06 at 07:48 AM

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:05am

South Pacific is too creaky and didactic to ever return to B'way.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:16am

Lauren Kennedy and Marc Kudisch...PERFECTION

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:16am

Sorry about the multiple postings
Updated On: 6/5/05 at 10:16 AM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:24am

It was worth repeating more than once.

[wildcat]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:24am

Oh that's a relief. I thought my TONY drugs had kicked in early...

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:58am

The NYCity Opera included SP in its season several years ago. The book, Pulitzer Prize winner as it is, could use some tightening, in my opinion. It would also benefit from a lighter touch overall. Still, a beautiful and beautifully constructed piece of musical theatre. It would be interesting to know how SP stands against other R&H musicals in the number of yearly productions.

Casting thoughts:

Rebecca Luker as Nellie
Stokes as de Becque
Tonyas Pinkins as Bloddy Mary
Matt Bogart as Lt. Cable
Butz as Luther Billis
our own Liotte as Liat

Did you know that the character name of one of the nurses is
"Lisa Minelli" (spelled correctly as in libretto)?



Updated On: 6/5/05 at 10:58 AM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:01am

Loving that cast too, Jose'.

BTW, whomever did it, thanks for getting rid of my extra posts! My computer sucks this morning.

[Urban]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:28am

South Pacific makes the baby Jesus cry.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 11:31am

The Dallas Theatre Center did a production of SOUTH PACIFIC about six years ago that the R&H estate seriously considered moving to Broadway. It was one of the best productions of a musical I have ever seen. Michelle Ragusa was Nellie, Tsidi LeLoka was Bloody Mary and Sean McDermott was Cable.

I think Marc Kudisch is too young to play Emile opposite someone like Lauren Kennedy. Their age difference is a big part of Nellie's initial hesitation to their relationship.

Every time one of these SP threads come up there is always a fight about Nellie's age. But really she is supposed to be 22. I realize Mary Martin was older but for the show to work (outside of a concert version) with today's audiences, Nellie has to be young and naive. Otherwise she comes accross as really unlikable and dim witted.

And Stokes would be a wonderful Emile, but he really can't do it in a full production either. The whole story is about Nellie's racism. His children are of mixed blood, but Emile can not be black. It would throw the entire story out the window.
Updated On: 6/5/05 at 11:31 AM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:19pm

I actually think (all adoration aside) that Kudisch would be perfect for the role. Lauren Kennedy is probably too old for Nellie anyways. Sutton would be great and the age difference would be there. Anyone for Laura Benanti playing the part?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:53pm

Benanti is closer to the right age though she's always looked 35. Sutton Foster is about eight years younger then Kudisch. Kudisch would have to play opposite Ashley Brown or Jessica Grove for the age thing to really work.

[tpdc]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 4:16pm

Kennedy is too old for Nellie and Kudisch is too young for Emile. Stokes can get by in a concert production but wouldn't work in a full production. People are even questioning his casting in the concert.

I don't know that SOUTH PACIFIC would work on Broadway in 2005. The book presents problems for contemporary audiences. If the R & H organization thought it would work, they would have allowed one of the regional productions or the National production to transfer.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 4:25pm

The story with the production from the DTC is that R&H thought it was good enough to transfer, it was, however, designed for a thrust stage and would only have worked in a space like the Vivian Beaumont.

At the same time, Trevor Nunn announced his plans for a production of SP at the National. Because of his production of OKLAHOMA, which the R&H estate loved, it was only natural that they give first consideraton to Nunn's production, but it ended up being a disappointment, though Lauren Kennedy was good.

I imagine the show will be revived eventually. Nunn played around with the book, but Richard Hamberger did not in Dallas and it came across alot better then Nunn's tinkered version. Hamberger's production was also the best acted production of the show I've seen. Michelle Ragusa was extraordinary.

Updated On: 6/5/05 at 04:25 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 5:36pm

Samel Ramey as DeBeque

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 5:39pm

i don't know why- but i saw the show, and i saw the movie...and it just didn't appeal to me, the songs just didn't carry the show like broadway songs should.

[musicman117]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 5:43pm

Urban "South Pacific makes the baby Jesus cry." - LOL!!!!!!

What about Kate Reinders for Nellie?
Updated On: 6/5/05 at 05:43 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 5:52pm

I love José's casting choices. Rebecca Luker and BSM would be great in those roles. BSM will be playing the part in the upcoming Carnegie Hall concert opposite Reba McEntire.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 6:21pm

Again, that's a CONCERT. Reba is too old to play Nellie in a real productionm and Stokes is too.... African-American.


There are very few parts that CAN NOT be played by African-American actors. Emile DeBeque is one of those roles. For God's sake, folks, THE SHOW IS ABOUT A WHITE GIRL WHO WON'T MARRY A WHITE GUY WHEN SHE FINDS OUT HE HAS MIXED RACE CHILDREN!!!

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 6:24pm

Umm Jon, I never said it wasn't a concert.

And relax, it isn't necessarily the end of the world you can unlock your caps, girl...

you seriously need to chill out...

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 6:35pm

I am probably the only one of the only ones, but I HATE South Pacific.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 7:14pm

I'm waiting for a Broadway revival...

What about Kelli O'Hara as Nellie?
Brian Stokes Mitchell would sound lovely as Emile.

~Steven

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 10:30am

Oh no...

Is this one of those threads where we say who should play
this role and who should play that?

How about for Nellie: MISS PIGGY!

xx

lol