South Pacific

Premiered in 1949, “South Pacific” has become a particular favourite with audiences across the world.  There is hardly one song in the show that people do not know – and many songs that will be on their lips for days after attending a performance.

An opening number for two young children is never easy, but Zoey Crabb and Michael Wigham acquitted themselves extremely well in this production.

Excellent performances followed from Amy Elder as a young, attractive Nellie and Grieg WW Hill’s characterisation of Emile.  Grieg’s considerable number of years treading the boards always exudes confidence in any role he undertakes. However, he has met his match in Amy whose performance, both vocally and dramatically, combined well with his, achieving a lovely combination in all their duet work.

Fraser Morrison as Lt Cable was in fine voice and, together with Liat (Eilidh Smith) gave full commitment to their roles. Bloody Mary (Claire Owens) offered us a range of first class emotions from comedy to exasperation when her plan to match Liat and Cable fails – and this done while suffering from a cold!  Luthor Billis (Scott Nicoll) added further to the comedic elements in the show, whilst aided and abetted by his co-Seabees, ably (and enthusiastically) played by Greg Sives, Glen McGill, Keith Breasley, Alan Woolley, Scott Melvin, Callum Stott and Roger Kershaw. Perhaps Billis could have been allowed a bit more freedom to express his humour in Honey Bun, nevertheless, his work with the dancers demonstrated that his talents did not lie solely in singing and comedy routines. Officers Bracket and Harbison (Gerry Duffy and Gordon Taylor) offered maturity to their characters giving good contrast to the unruly Seabees!

Dance routines were well executed, again with the enthusiasm that we become familiar with in GAMA.

Sets were simple, yet effective, and smoothly transitioned from scene to scene by Stage Manager, Hannah Woolley – important when you have twenty four scenes to cope with.

Well done GAMA, and a pleasure to see a fairly full house for a second night show!

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