Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Review: South Pacific
Posted by Lauren LaBorde on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 2:34 PM
The musical is set at a U.S. Naval base during World War II, where daffy American nurse Nellie Forbush (Katie Reid) has fallen for the wealthy French expat Emile de Becque (Marcelo Guzzo), who has a few secrets — mainly two Polynesian love children and a murder rap. Nellie tries to get him out of her head in the audience favorite "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," which Reid carries with bright buoyancy against a weak supporting cast. With his deep, rich baritone, Guzzo handles Emile’s songs adeptly, but his acting and French accent were clunky and resulted in some unintentional humor (his opera background is perhaps to blame for his stiff stage presence). Also on the base we find an L-and-R interchanging, cartoonish Asian stereotype of the first order in the scheming Bloody Mary (played by Cathy Foy-Mahi, who is bewitching during “Bali Ha’i”), a pack of goofy sailors and Lt. Joseph Cable (Shane Donovan), whose Princeton education didn’t prepare him for the emotional predicament in which he finds himself. The lighting was effective, creating lovely tropical sunsets and feathery clouds. But no amount of Broadway standards and pretty set pieces could expedite the first act, which at an hour and 40 minutes left many audience members less than enchanted — and they were quite vocal about it — as intermission neared.
South Pacific is at the Mahalia Jackson Theater 8 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 7:30 p.m. Sun. Tickets $34.85-$99.70 (includes fees).
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