SOUTH PACIFIC: Musical byRichard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Directed by Milissa Carey. Foothill Music Theatre, Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022. (650) 949-7360 or www.foothillmusicals.com.July 24 –August 10, 2014
South Pacific scores a hit at Foothill College [rating:5] (5 of 5 Stars) (All photos by David Allen)
Foothill College keeps its reputation as a top notch venue for summer musicals with South Pacific under the direction of Milissa Carey who replaced the legendary Jay Manley in 2012. Last year’s production of Damn Yankees hit a three bagger just missing a home run but this year’s production rounds all the bases. There are top-notch singers, an energetic ensemble in all shapes and sizes who sing and dance up a storm with humor and pathos.
Luther Billis (Steve Boisvert) and Sea Bees
Since the original 1949 Broadway production that won all the major awards being handed out, the show has made the rounds of community theatres and touring companies and was adapted into a slick over-produced 1958 motion picture. The 2008 revival at the Vivian Beaumont Theater received wide acclaim and showed up in San Francisco with a 25 piece orchestra with an expected first class professional production.
Thanksgiving Follies with Billis and Forebush
With all its spit and polish of that show, the Foothill staging is more satisfying with sets (Kuo-Hao Lo) that seem appropriate and what we would expect on a Pacific Island. It is hardly a simplistic staging but they cleverly use the actors as stage hands to effortlessly move the props as a musical interlude plays between scenes without a wasted minute.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning 1949 musical based on James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning book “Tales of the South Pacific” tells the story of four star-crossed lovers caught up in the war in the Pacific and emotionally torn due to ingrained racial prejudice. Woven into the romantic story line are the shenanigans of full-bodied native Bloody Mary (Jacqueline DeMuro) and a group of Sea Bees led by Luther Billis (Steve Boisvert). Madison Genovese playing Nurse Ensign Nellie Forbush is a perky “Cockeyed Optimist” with a charming soprano voice that is not quite a perfect match for the magnificent operatic baritone voice of Daniel Cameron as plantation owner Emile de Becque. Their rendition of “Two Soliloquies” within the first scene sets the hesitant tone of their initial relationship that melts away when Cameron sings “Some Enchanted Evening.”
Bloody Mary sings Bali Ha’i to Luther and the Sea Bees
“My Girl Back Home” Nellie & Cable
Sergey Khalikulov’s’entrance as Lt. Joseph Cable is recognized as a “sexy b—–d” by Bloody Mary who selects him to be the husband of her teenage daughter Liat (Amanda Nguyen). Not only is he sexy and tall he has a superb tenor voice to sing “Younger than Springtime”, “This Nearly Was Mine”, and heart tugging “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” that expresses the internal and external racism of that era.
The show is loaded with classic Rogers and Hammerstein gems: “Bloody Mary”, “There is Nothing Like a Dame”, Bali Ha’i”, “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right out of my Hair”, “A Wonderful Guy”, “Happy Talk”, “Younger than Springtime”, “This Nearly Was Mine”, and heart tugging “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught.” Khalikulov creates a lump in your throat with his viscerally plaintive singing of the final song mentioned.
De Becque’s mixed-race children Ngana and Jerome are played on alternate nights by youngsters Anika Amrikas-Armstrong and Deepti Kumar and Mathew Mammen and Akshay Thakur repectively. There was no mention on opening night of who played the role, never-the-less they were a joy to watch and hear with their duet of “Dites-Moi.”
This musical has been said to be a play with music and director Carey has added emphasis to that concept with adroit staging allowing the major characters to slowly tread the small runway surrounding the orchestra to sing their highlight songs in concert style. With a minor complaint that the 11 piece/14 instrument (including a Harp) orchestra could be a bit more upbeat the evening is a complete success.
As an added note, my seat companion, a veteran Navy pilot who flew Torpedo Bombers during the time frame of the play, wished to commend those responsible for finding actors who resembled the Sea Bees he knew during his tour of duty. He even sought out the production supervisor (Bruce Mcleod) to congratulate him on the smooth transition of the scenes and the director saying this was the most satisfying production of South Pacific that he has seen.
Running time 2 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.
CAST: Madison Genovese as Nellie Forbush; Daniel Cameron as Emile de Becque; Stephen Boisvert Luther Billis; Sergey Khalikulov Lt. Joseph Cable; Jackie DeMuro as Bloody Mary. Others: Vic Prosak, Doug Brees, Amanda Nguyen, Joey Montes, Anika Amrikas-Armstrong, Mathew Mamman, Will Bowmer, Chris Cruz, Paul Joseph Estioko, Remi Ferguson, Patrick Hagen, Steven Ho, David Kirk, Andrew Kracht, Vaughn Mayer, Jerris Ramirez, Kevin Reid, Erik Scilley, Jeff Taylor, Max Walters, Jake Weissman-Sharer, Mike Weiland, Carolyn Bacon, Megan Coomans, Nique Eagen, Cassandra Grilley, Dana Johnson, Elizabeth Lawrence, Ellen Presley, Minna Rogers, Kazmeira Tarshis, Marlena Westley, and Chernee’ Young.
Creative Team Crew: Director, Milissa Carey; Musical Direction by Mark Hanson; Choreography by Michael Ryken; Lighting Designer, Michael Ramsaur; Scenic Designer, Kuo-Hao Lo; Costume Designer, Robert Horek; Production Supervisor, Bruce McLeod; Sound Designer, Andrew Heller; Prop Design, Ruthe Stein.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
