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This
360° view shows a recent production form Teesside Operatic
Society.
It
was taken from the front of the stage during the company's curtain
call for South Pacific.
You
can find out below what Tim Ellingford thought of the show. Ìý
South
Pacific, Teesside Operatic Society
Review
by Tim Ellingford
The
songs by Rogers and Hammerstein which include "Honey Bun", "Happy
Talk" and "Some Enchanted Evening" help to make this show seem familiar
even if you haven't seen it.
It
was this reason that prompted me to head for the Middlesbrough Theatre
for the run of this classic showÌý which first opened at the Drury
Lane Theatre in London in 1951.
The
show is about Nellie Forbush who is a nurse from Little Rock stationed
on a pacific Island in World war II.Ìý She knows how far she has
come from Little Rock when she falls in love with the older, Emile
de Becque, a local planter.Ìý
But
when she finds out that he is a widower with two small children
she finds this difficult to take because of her small town upbringing
and heads back to the military base.Ìý
Love
and prejudice
Likewise
young Lieutenant Cable from a noble Boston Family falls in love
with the Polynesian, Liat whose mother is Bloody Mary, the local
entrepreneur, is torn between love and prejudice.
De
Becque, deeply disappointed with Nellie's attitude and coldness
towards him, joins an American spy mission on a nearby island, and
Nellie subsequently realises her true feelings for him.Ìý Luckily
for her de Becque escapes when the Japanese attack and comes back
to find her serving soup to his children.Ìý
His
companion on the dangerous mission, Lieutenant Cable is not so lucky.Ìý
He is killed and Liat is left alone, deprived of the one man she
would marry.
The
reputation of the Teesside Operatic Society is so strong that it
almost guarantees at full house every night.Ìý The night I was there
I was sitting in the circle area surrounded by family and friends
of some of the cast, and it is possibly the goodwill of the audience
that really helps the cast to pull off such good performances.Ìý
From
the moment theÌý music started the lady behind me started humming
and singing "Some Enchanted Evening".ÌýI was left thinking I hope
the cast are more in-tune.Ìý
Exceptional
performances
I needn't
have worried all the performances were exceptional.Ìý Often what
lets amateur productions down is the micing because of the cost
of technical support sometimes the sound leaves a lot to be desired
however at the Middlesbrough Theatre all the main characters had
personal mics which mean't no note or lyric was lost. Ìý
The
society itself is quite a family affair with more than one family
member being involved in this case, Nellie Forbush was played by
Alison Dale who's husband Simon played Lieutenant Joe cable and
Sally Emmerson who played Bloody Mary is joined by her son Christopher
who played Jerome during certain performances.Ìý
The
music is highly charged and emotive and becuase the story is about
serious and sensitive issues it could become quite a a tough test
for the audiences to endure.Ìý
However
there is light relief in the guise of Bloody Mary played by Sally
Emmerson and Luther Billis who was expertly played by Allan Iverson
who made this lovelable wideboy a likeable and popular character
with hidden depth. Ìý
A thoroughly
enjoyable night out. Ìý
Ìý
Other
facts about South Pacific:Ìý
* Sean
Connery was in the chorus at one stage of the original show's London
run.
* Mary
Martin was in the original cast.
* South
Pacific won eight Tony awards including one for best Musical. Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
If
you enjoy musicals then why not join Tim Ellingford on a Sunday
evening between 7 and 9pm for "Songs From The Shows". Ìý
Look
out for a review later this week of "Copacabana" which is on at
the Civic Theatre in Darlington and is being presented by Darlington
Operatic Society. Ìý
If
you have seen a show in the area don't forget to let us know your
view just e-mail your views to us. Ìý
At
Â鶹Éç Tees we are looking for someone to review the Summer Repertory
Season at the Civic Theatre in Darlington, shows include "Sailor
Beware" with Ruth Madoc, the
classic Ray Cooney farce "It Runs In The Family", "My Cousin Rachel"
with Bruce MontagueÌýand "Trap For A Lonely Man with Jonathan Morris.Ìý
We
are looking for someone who would like to see the four shows and
all we ask for in return for two free tickets is a review on Â鶹Éç
Tees.Ìý
E-mail
us today on tees@bbc.co.uk
and let us know why you should be chosen as our guest reviewer.
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