Summer romance is blooming on a gorgeous fantasy island (or two) in the woods at Caledonia State Park, where Totem Pole Playhouse just opened “South Pacific”— Rodgers and Hammerstein II’s classic American musical that has wooed multiple generations for more than 80 years.
With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan; the show opened on Broadway in 1949 to sweep ten Tony Awards — including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Libretto — as well as the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Drama during its initial five-year run.
The original cast recording claimed the spot of best-selling album in the 1940s, and “South Pacific” — in all its adaptations and thousands of performances on- and off-Broadway, on regional and global tours, and in concerts and community and high school productions since — has remained wildly popular.
In 1958, Logan directed the feature film based on the musical for the first time; that film won multiple Academy and Globe Awards and was recognized by the American Film Institute. Variations have appeared on television many times over the decades.
Directed at Totem Pole Playhouse by Producing Artistic Director Ryan B. Gibbs with stellar musical direction and choreography by Darren Server and Jennifer Reed, respectively, “South Pacific” lives up to every expectation of “America’s Summer Theater” from the moment the lights rise until the last song and dance number leaves audience members wowed.
Elegant musicians flank an impressive set on both sides of the proscenium instead of upstage as in previous Totem Pole shows this season.
Designed by Maggie Jackson, the magic of theater art is on full display as intricate scene changes are accomplished using screens, sliding panels, rotating set pieces and gorgeous projections upstage. Equally aesthetic, the lighting (Corey Goulden-Naitove), sound (Kate Wecker) and costumes (Elizabeth Angelozzi) complete the illusion of landing on a lush tropical island occupied by U.S. forces fighting the Japanese during World War II.
The story begins at the lovely home of a wealthy French Plantation owner. His half-Polynesian children — Ngana (in a role shared by Aurora Esiel and Holland Patterson) and Jerome (Theo and Troyli Santiago) — perform the Opening Number “Dites-Moi” as the charming intro to a drama about two love stories marred by racial prejudice and set against a U.S. military campaign.
Their father, Emile de Becque (Spencer Plachy) has fallen deeply in love with Ensign Nelly Forbush (Amy Decker), a feisty Navy nurse he met at the officers’ club dance. Leads Plachy and Decker deftly own the stage for the next few numbers including Plachy’s riveting performance of the famous “Some Enchanted Evening” score.
Nelly returns to Base walking on air and Emile calls Jerome and Ngana to reprise “Dites-Moi,” revealing that (yet to be known by Nelly) the half-Polynesian children are his own son and daughter.
The scene shifts to Base and the Seabees (led by Dennis Setteducati as Luther Billis) deliver a rollicking rendition of “Bloody Mary.”
Bloody Mary is a crafty middle-aged Tonkinese peddler selling grass skirts; Caitlin Burke claims her sarcastic, larger-than-life character with exceptional vocals and great presence.
The very lively “There’s Nothing Like a Dame” by con man Billis and the Seabees precedes “Bali Ha’i” — a haunting song about an island paradise where dreams come true — performed first and beautifully by Burke as Bloody Mary.
A young Marine, Lt. Joseph Cable (Sage Spiker) arrives on a dangerous mission and sings “Cable Hears Bali Ha’i” in a lovely solo. Later, he performs “Younger Than Springtime” [confessing his love for Bloody Mary’s daughter, Liat (Riri Kuroki)] equally well.
Near the end of Act I, Emile introduces Ngana and Jerome to Nellie as his own children, and trouble lands in paradise. Facing her own ingrained prejudice rooted in an Arkansas upbringing, she refuses Emile’s marriage proposal, not because of the children, but because she cannot accept that he had a relationship with their deceased Polynesian mother.
Heartbroken but forcing herself to move on from Emile, Nellie reprises “I’m Going To Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” (which she’d performed earlier) in one of her many standout moments.
In Act II, Bloody Mary and Liat deliver a wonderful performance of the lighthearted, iconic show tune “Happy Talk” to convince Cable he’d have a happy life with Liat.
During a Thanksgiving Follies Show for the troops, Nellie and Billis are hilarious performing “Honey Bun” as cross-dressing sweethearts entertaining the troops. Nellie’s oversized sailor costume is funny, but Billis’s appearance in a blonde wig, grass skirt and coconut-shell bra leaves the audience in stitches.
Cable, who is recovering from an illness, confesses to Liat that he can’t marry her, and his heartbroken performance of “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught” makes a strong statement against racism that was quite controversial 80 years ago but is, sadly, still relevant today.
Emile joins Cable on a dangerous but heroic mission and their two heartbreaks resolve before the lights fade — one in tragedy and one in reconciliation.
Underneath the showmanship of sensational song and dance and beautiful costuming, “South Pacific” also highlights the toll of war on service members. John Vessels, Jr. as Captain Brackett and Luke Reed as Commander Harbison bring great military precision to the story with believable humanity and emotion. As does Andrew Boza as Lt. Adams.
All the supporting cast members and dancers perform beautifully in this crisp ensemble production that is an excellent example of Rodgers and Hammerstein II juxtaposing light themes (in this case summer flings) with dark or controversial social issues.
Full of visual color and texture with exceptional vocal and dance performances across the board, “South Pacific” has lost none of its timeless charm at Totem Pole Playhouse.
“South Pacific” (sponsored by Valley Agency Insurance and Walker and Spang LLC) continues at Totem Pole Playhouse through August 16th at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays thru Thursdays, (with the final performance on August 16th at 2 p.m.).
Tickets cost $55– $66 with a $5 service fee if purchased online at Totem Pole Playhouse. For discounted group orders of 10 or more, junior (ages 5-15) and student (ages 16-22), call the Box Office at (717) 352-2164, ext. 1.
“South Pacific” is presented at Totem Pole Playhouse by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
Other Production Credits: Brandon T. Miller (Wig/Hair Designer), Rachel Landon (Properties Designer), Sam Sims (Associate Lighting Designer/Video Designer), Kia Armstrong (Production Manager), Chris Russo (Technical Director), Gene Fouche (Intimacy Coach), Steven Zumbrun (Associate Musical Director/Conductor)
Orchestra: Steven Zumbrun (Keyboards/Conductor), Darren Server (Keyboards 2), Aaron Patterson (Reeds), Mark Alexander Gray (Drums), Sylvia Perbetsky (French Horn), Oliver Paris (French Horn at certain performances), Mark Hartman (Violin)
Other Supporting Cast Members: Derek Alexander (as Henry/Ensemble), Gabriel Hobbs (Stew Pot/Ensemble), Alex Moss (Professor/Ensemble), Michael J. Krikorian (Yeoman Herbert Quale/Ensemble), Jackson Manning (Radio operator Bob McCaffrey/Seaman Thomas Hassinger/Ensemble), Adam Shank (Seaman Tom O’Brien/Sgt. Kenneth Johnson/Ensemble), Jennifer Reed (Ensign Dinah Murphy/Ensemble), Bailey Wennick (Ensign Janet MacGregor/Ensemble), Maria Albani (Head Nurse/Ensemble), Madeline Falco (Ensign Cora MacRae/Bloody Mary’s Assistant), Kelley Alejos (Ensemble), Andrew Boza (Ensemble), Ashley Calderon (Ensemble), Madeline Falco (Ensemble), Oren Korenblum (Ensemble), Dylan Loraw (Ensemble), Jennifer Reed (Ensemble), Luke Reed (Ensemble), John Vessels, Jr. (Ensemble), Isaac Walker (Ensemble)
Dance Captain: Jennifer Reed
Follies Dancers: Maria Albani, Kelly Alejos, Madeline Falco, Dylan Loraw, Jennifer Reed, Adam Shank
Bali Hai Dancers: Ashley Calderon, Madeline Falco, Dylan Loraw
Understudies: Bailey Wennick (for Nellie), Kelley Alegos (Emile), Riri Kuroki (Bloody Mary), Jackson Manning (Cable), Madeline Falco (Liat), Alexander Moss (Billis), Michael J. Krikorian (Bracket and Harbison), Maria Albani (Dinah), Dylan Loraw (Ensemble features)
Photo Caption: Riki Kuroki and Sage Spiker in South Pacific
Photo Credit: Andy Smetzer Photography
