South Pacific

Both the opening of the performance with projected scenes of the Pacific Islands and US forces and later with the projected maps of the Pacific gave the audience a real context for the action of the show. This was supported by the opening tableaux and the set which gave the impression of depth and distance. The background gave the principals, who were mainly in their first principal roles, a head start.  As Nellie Forbush, Lesley Kettles with her clear singing and diction presented us with a girl excited then troubled by her relationship with a French planter. Chris Cairns as Emile De Becque looked and acted the more mature role and was a nice foil to Alan Musgrave as the younger Cable, whose love scenes with Liat, Cairy McNeil, brought out a bewilderment and reluctance to hurt. Both sets of relationships tended to bring out the darker side to life, as did Leona Reiter’s machinations as Bloody Mary with her ruthless business dealings and pursuit of marriage for her daughter, so the contrast with the wheeling, dealing Luther Billies and his pals was welcome humour. As Billies, Gavin Orr  sang assuredly, even in grass skirt and blond wig, and delighted in the nuances of dialogue - like catch phrase ‘get the picture’ in dealing with the top brass Captain Bracket and Cmdr Harbison, Ricky Cassidy and Douglas Bloomer respectively. The three little girls, Olivia Darwin, Symantha Scott and Maddy Coles sang ‘Dites Moi’ poignantly each time and made a fitting ending with Nellie and Emile. Other minor roles were undertaken faithfully. As ever ‘Nothing like A Dame’ by the male chorus came over well as did the ‘Wash That Man’ number with the ladies.  The slower singing tempo in some numbers was unusual and challenging.  All the cast had worked hard, thinking themselves into their roles and obviously had great fun doing them.

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