How does a 65-year-old musical translate to today’s contemporary audiences? If you attended the opening weekend performances of Musical Theater Heritage’s take on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, there’s absolutely no doubt that the musical still draws a crowd.
Before I go too deep into my thoughts about this musical, I have to attach a small caveat right here. In high school, I played viola and sat in the pit orchestra. The musical my senior year happened to be South Pacific so needless to say, I have been in love with this musical forever.
Back to the review, Musical Theater Heritage is known for staging topnotch shows. This was no exception. From Music Director Jeremy Watson’s first chords on the piano, it was pretty clear that the sound would be great and Nellie’s song such as Cockeyed Optimist and Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair were in safe hands.
Writing about nurse Nellie brings me to Ashley Pankow, the fair-haired siren with enough sass to charm the socks off anyone. Her opposite comes in the form of Christopher Sanders, a tall man with a deep rolling voice that suits the role of Emile. He nailed the French accent and the charm that this older leading character needs to have.
However, I am a sucker for the supporting roles. Justin Barron took the role of Luther Billis and made it his own. He definitely understands his role as comic relief. On the flip side, there is Enjoli Gavin. According to her credits, this is her first production with MTH, but hopefully not her last. She steps into the accouterments of Bloody Mary and sings her heart out during Bali Ha’i and Happy Talk.
This is a huge cast with singers playing nurses and sailors and Artistic Director Sarah Crawford manages them well as they move around the small theater space at Crown Center’s Off Center Theatre. I have always adored the nurses who perform with Nellie. Liz Clark Golson led this group with stellar charm.
Adam Branson plays Lt. Joseph Cable who falls in love with Bloody Mary’s daughter Liat, played ever so sweetly by Megan Herrera. He sings one of my all-time favorite songs, You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught. As Executive Director and Founder George Harter told the audiences in his pre-show talk, Rodgers and Hammerstein were encouraged to remove this song about race and they faced widespread criticism, judged by some to be too controversial or downright inappropriate for the musical stage. Even today, this song still rings true in light of current local and national political issues. And almost in that ironic sense, the cast of the musical has incredible diversity which proves that now the race is not important but the talent.
Two little sweethearts, Julia and Janiel Balino play Ngana and Janette, the children of Emile. Let me just say … they are just too cute for words. Chad Gerlt serves as the executive producer for MTH and he gets giddy when a show opens. His excitement is infectious and then I get excited to see how they put together their latest masterpiece. With MTH’s version of South Pacific, it has become a masterpiece touched up and freshened up for this audience. The show closes Aug. 24. Visit www.mthkc.com for tickets and other details.
