April 25-May 1, 2002
artpicks
Enchanted Evenings
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Theater
In the darkest days of World War II, Rodgers and Hammerstein reinvented the American musical. Their stories -- of ordinary people with extraordinary spirit, strength of character triumphing over adversity, and a sense of human possibility -- were especially meaningful in that grim time. The R&H musicals brought more than entertainment to Americans. They brought hope.
South Pacific (1949), adapted from James Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning story collection, was the team's fourth musical. On one level, it's an unlikely love story between Nellie Forbush, a bubbly but naive American army nurse, and Emile de Becque, a sophisticated and considerably older expatriate French planter. Their romance, though, is secondary to the world around them: the life and lessons of the war. One of those lessons (and a groundbreaker at the time) is the destructiveness of prejudice. Of course, with R&H, it goes without saying that the songs -- including "Some Enchanted Evening" and "A Wonderful Guy" -- became favorites. But the themes are every bit as important to the show.
Major productions of South Pacific have been relatively rare, but it seems the time is right. Soon Bali Hai will again be calling from the stage of the Merriam Theater. The supporting cast is full of excellent performers, including Gretha Boston (Tony winner for Showboat) as Bloody Mary, and dreamy Lewis Cleale as Lieutenant Cable. And 42 years after he set hearts a-flutter in Camelot, Robert Goulet is back to do it again as Emile.
Who could resist?
South Pacific, April 30-May 5, $39.50-$69.50, Merriam Theater, 250 South Broad St., 215-336-1234.
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