“South Pacific” is a monumental musical that soared to star-spangled success when it first appeared in 1949, nominated for 10 Tonys and winning all of them.
The musical came close to repeating history when its revival received seven Tonys in 2008, including best revival of a musical.
One of those 2008 Tonys went to Intiman’s outgoing artistic director Bartlett Sher, who is directing The 5th Avenue Theatre’s production. It was Sher’s genius that led him to resurrect “South Pacific” and bring this flawless production to Seattle.
If you see any show at The 5th Avenue this year, make it “South Pacific.”
The musical is like watching a time capsule exploding on stage. But these are not bygone pieces of history that got trotted out on stage for us to gawk over, smile at and put away. This history is us, it’s how we got here; it’s us in the making.
“South Pacific” still resonates with us because it’s a story about America and Americans. How we fight the bullies and face our own demons. A story of our fearlessness, determination, our American grit. A story of how we eventually wise up, mature and change for the better.
“South Pacific” was also a hit machine. It’s stunning to sit in the audience and hear all these songs that have become part of the fabric of popular culture, whether in commercial advertising — “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair” — or as American idiom — “corny as Kansas in August.”
The timeless score of Rodgers and Hammerstein launched these lyrical lovelies and others, such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There is Nothing Like a Dame,” “This Nearly was Mine” and “Bali Ha’i” into the spectrum of worldwide standards.
These songs take on more beauty when delivered by operatically trained baritone Rod Gilfry as plantation owner Emile de Becque; Carmen Cusack, who recently played Elpheba in “Wicked,” as Ensign Nellie Forbush; and Keala Settle as Bloody Mary, whose “Bali Ha’i” was hypnotic.
The glorious score provides the backdrop for this tropic island romance. “South Pacific” is taken from two stories by James Michener and focuses on two couples whose happiness is threatened by World War II and their own prejudices.
Nellie is a nurse on a Pacific Island during World War II, who falls in love with de Becque. When she learns, however, that he is a widower with two children of mixed race, she can’t deny her own upbringing.
Meanwhile, Marine Lt. Cable falls in love with Liat, a Polynesian girl, but he, too, is unable to shed his own prejudice.
In reviving “South Pacific,” Sher restored the script so we get to see those parts of our history that are pockmarked and not so pretty. This superb cast made us feel the kind of pain one can feel when faced with our own flaws. We are reviled. Fortunately, in the end, we’re also somewhat redeemed.
Sher kept the integrity of the story and the intregral themes in tact, and that’s what’s so powerful about this production: We see our greatness and our imperfections.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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