LUSH, MESMERIZING PRODUCTION OF GOLDEN AGE CLASSIC south pacific enchants goodspeed audiences
By Kiersten Bjork (June 29, 2024)
South Pacific, currently playing at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, is a mesmerizing evening of classic musical theatre featuring a talented company of performers. With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, South Pacific is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener.
Set during World War II on a tropical island in the South Pacific, the story follows an engaging cast of characters as they navigate love and longing amidst a world at war and preconceived prejudices. We follow the lives of Nellie, the optimistic, endearing nurse, Emile, a French plantation owner whose knowledge is sought after by the military, Lt. Cable, a young lieutenant just transferred to the island for a dangerous mission, and more as tensions and passions rise alongside the seductive and mystical island known as Bali Ha’i. Featuring iconic songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha’i,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” and “Younger Than Springtime,” you’ll be enraptured by the soaring score from start to finish. South Pacific features direction by Chay Yew, choreography by Parker Esse, and music direction by Adam Souza.
South Pacific, currently playing at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, is a mesmerizing evening of classic musical theatre featuring a talented company of performers. With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, South Pacific is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener.
Set during World War II on a tropical island in the South Pacific, the story follows an engaging cast of characters as they navigate love and longing amidst a world at war and preconceived prejudices. We follow the lives of Nellie, the optimistic, endearing nurse, Emile, a French plantation owner whose knowledge is sought after by the military, Lt. Cable, a young lieutenant just transferred to the island for a dangerous mission, and more as tensions and passions rise alongside the seductive and mystical island known as Bali Ha’i. Featuring iconic songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha’i,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” and “Younger Than Springtime,” you’ll be enraptured by the soaring score from start to finish. South Pacific features direction by Chay Yew, choreography by Parker Esse, and music direction by Adam Souza.
Joan Almedilla, Cameron Loyal and the cast of South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals
(Diane Sobolewski) |
Keven Quillon and the cast of South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski)
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The role of Nellie Forbush is usually played by Danielle Wade, but at the performance I attended, Hannah Jewel Kohn was on. Kohn shines in the role from the moment she enters. She embodies the “cockeyed optimist” with a delightful energy and joyful air that has you smiling. Her renditions of “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” and “Honey Bun” are tons of fun, and she has great chemistry in the scenes with Emile.
Similar to Nellie’s situation, the role of Emile de Becque is usually played by Omar Lopez-Cepero, but at the performance I attended, Eric Briarley was on. While I’m sure Wade and Lopez-Cepero would have been exceptional, I was greatly impressed by both Kohn and Briarley. Briarley’s Emile is suave, he’s charming, and his voice is incredibly rich. Listening to his “Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine” was breathtaking. In “This Nearly Was Mine,” Briarley barely moves, rooted to the spot as he laments the love that was so close to being his, and the raw emotion conveyed is truly stunning. His dynamic with Kohn’s Nellie is wonderful to watch – great chemistry between two understudies for the roles, and I also quite enjoyed his interactions with Emile’s children. The softer, playful father role comes out when Ngana and Jerome are around, and it rounds out the character well. Emile’s children are played by the adorable Sky Vaux Fuller and Phoenix Noelle, though Emjay Roa is usually in the Jerome track that Noelle covered at the performance I attended.
Lt. Joseph Cable is played by Cameron Loyal. Loyal enters stiff and imposing, the new lieutenant just joining the crew on the island from his prior assignment where the fighting has been much more involved. He’s rigid and strict, yet under the prodding of the Seabees and the seduction of Bali Ha’i, his nature gives way to an individual who is passionate about his cause and deeply in love. Loyal brings strength and heart to the role, evoking the range of Cable from start to finish and taking the audience on the journey with him. His “Younger Than Springtime” is beautiful.
Joan Almedilla plays Bloody Mary with a fierceness and strength to which I was drawn. She walks the line of trying to please the military men in order to get their money, and turning on them when they refuse, in a way that creates a fascinating character. Her “Bali Ha’i” is hauntingly lovely.
Bloody Mary’s daughter, Liat, is played by Alex Humphreys. With very few lines, and those almost entirely in French, Humphreys does a nice job of conveying the feelings of Liat through movement and facial expressions. There is an eagerness, yet a sadness to Liat as her mother seeks to marry her off, and Humphreys evokes this all, even with limited dialogue.
Keven Quillon is absolutely hilarious as Luther Billis. He all but steals the show in his scenes, particularly in the rousing number “Honey Bun.” Billis is sweet and mischievous, endearing, goofy, and a bit rough around the edges, and Quillon hits all the right notes for us to love the character. His moments of candid friendship with Nellie are some of my favorites in the show.
Similar to Nellie’s situation, the role of Emile de Becque is usually played by Omar Lopez-Cepero, but at the performance I attended, Eric Briarley was on. While I’m sure Wade and Lopez-Cepero would have been exceptional, I was greatly impressed by both Kohn and Briarley. Briarley’s Emile is suave, he’s charming, and his voice is incredibly rich. Listening to his “Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine” was breathtaking. In “This Nearly Was Mine,” Briarley barely moves, rooted to the spot as he laments the love that was so close to being his, and the raw emotion conveyed is truly stunning. His dynamic with Kohn’s Nellie is wonderful to watch – great chemistry between two understudies for the roles, and I also quite enjoyed his interactions with Emile’s children. The softer, playful father role comes out when Ngana and Jerome are around, and it rounds out the character well. Emile’s children are played by the adorable Sky Vaux Fuller and Phoenix Noelle, though Emjay Roa is usually in the Jerome track that Noelle covered at the performance I attended.
Lt. Joseph Cable is played by Cameron Loyal. Loyal enters stiff and imposing, the new lieutenant just joining the crew on the island from his prior assignment where the fighting has been much more involved. He’s rigid and strict, yet under the prodding of the Seabees and the seduction of Bali Ha’i, his nature gives way to an individual who is passionate about his cause and deeply in love. Loyal brings strength and heart to the role, evoking the range of Cable from start to finish and taking the audience on the journey with him. His “Younger Than Springtime” is beautiful.
Joan Almedilla plays Bloody Mary with a fierceness and strength to which I was drawn. She walks the line of trying to please the military men in order to get their money, and turning on them when they refuse, in a way that creates a fascinating character. Her “Bali Ha’i” is hauntingly lovely.
Bloody Mary’s daughter, Liat, is played by Alex Humphreys. With very few lines, and those almost entirely in French, Humphreys does a nice job of conveying the feelings of Liat through movement and facial expressions. There is an eagerness, yet a sadness to Liat as her mother seeks to marry her off, and Humphreys evokes this all, even with limited dialogue.
Keven Quillon is absolutely hilarious as Luther Billis. He all but steals the show in his scenes, particularly in the rousing number “Honey Bun.” Billis is sweet and mischievous, endearing, goofy, and a bit rough around the edges, and Quillon hits all the right notes for us to love the character. His moments of candid friendship with Nellie are some of my favorites in the show.
Alex Humphreys and Cameron Loyal in South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski)
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Phil Sloves, Keven Quillon, Graham Keen, John Michael Peterson, and Eric Shawn in South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski)
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South Pacific depends heavily on a strong ensemble, and, as always, Goodspeed has assembled an impressive crew of triple-threats to round out the company.
Luther’s fellow Seabees are played by Eric Shawn (Henry/Morton Wise), Phil Sloves (Stewpot), Graham Keen (Professor), and Ethan Van Slyke (Yeoman Herbert Quale/Tom O’Brien), with John Michael Peterson (Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey/Kenneth Johnson) and Ethan Hardy Benson (Lt. Eustis Carmichael, Shore Patrolman/James Hayes) joining them as sailors and James Michael Reilly as Capt. George Brackett. Eric Briarly usually plays Cmdr. William Harbison and Danny Lindgren usually plays Lt. Buzz Adams/Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas Hassinger, but at the performance I attended, with Briarley on for Emile, Danny Lindgren moved into the Cmdr. Harbison track while swing John Barsoian took over for Adams/Hassinger.
Nellie’s fellow nurses are played by Nicolette Shin (Ensign Cora MacRae), Alexa Jane Lowis (Lt. Genevieve Marshall), Chloe Fox (Ensign Dinah Murphy), and Kelly Berman (Ensign Janet MacGregor). Hannah Jewel Kohn usually plays Ensign Connie Walewska, but with Kohn on for Nellie, swing Alyssa Sunew took the Walewska track.
Each member of the company is just as talented as the rest – and I want to give a particular shout-out to the understudies and swings whose work allows a performance like this to go off without a hitch. Despite having two of the lead performers out, the cast of South Pacific shone as bright as ever. You never would have known that numerous performers were not on for their usual tracks. Kudos to the entire company, but particularly to Kohn, Briarley, Noelle, Lindgren, Barsoian, and Sunew.
Luther’s fellow Seabees are played by Eric Shawn (Henry/Morton Wise), Phil Sloves (Stewpot), Graham Keen (Professor), and Ethan Van Slyke (Yeoman Herbert Quale/Tom O’Brien), with John Michael Peterson (Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey/Kenneth Johnson) and Ethan Hardy Benson (Lt. Eustis Carmichael, Shore Patrolman/James Hayes) joining them as sailors and James Michael Reilly as Capt. George Brackett. Eric Briarly usually plays Cmdr. William Harbison and Danny Lindgren usually plays Lt. Buzz Adams/Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas Hassinger, but at the performance I attended, with Briarley on for Emile, Danny Lindgren moved into the Cmdr. Harbison track while swing John Barsoian took over for Adams/Hassinger.
Nellie’s fellow nurses are played by Nicolette Shin (Ensign Cora MacRae), Alexa Jane Lowis (Lt. Genevieve Marshall), Chloe Fox (Ensign Dinah Murphy), and Kelly Berman (Ensign Janet MacGregor). Hannah Jewel Kohn usually plays Ensign Connie Walewska, but with Kohn on for Nellie, swing Alyssa Sunew took the Walewska track.
Each member of the company is just as talented as the rest – and I want to give a particular shout-out to the understudies and swings whose work allows a performance like this to go off without a hitch. Despite having two of the lead performers out, the cast of South Pacific shone as bright as ever. You never would have known that numerous performers were not on for their usual tracks. Kudos to the entire company, but particularly to Kohn, Briarley, Noelle, Lindgren, Barsoian, and Sunew.
James Michael Reilley, John Michael Peterson, and Eric Briarley in South Pacific at
Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski) |
Hannah Jewel Kohn, Kelly Berman, Chloe Fox, Alexa Jane Lowis, Nicolette Shin, and Danielle Wade in South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski)
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Scenic design by Alexander Dodge evokes the lush tropical island of the South Pacific with colorful backdrops, extravagant greenery, and silhouettes of tropical plants and grasses. Smaller scenic elements are set and struck to evoke different locations like Emile’s home, the makeshift stage for the Thanksgiving Follies, and the outdoor shower.
Lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker does a beautiful job supporting the world of the show through light and color. Chandrashaker plays with sunlight and shadow to great effect, illuminating the varying shades of the sky with gorgeous colors.
Costumes by designer Junghyun Georgia Lee and wigs and hair by designer Tommy Kurzman are perfect for the piece, from the clean and crisp military looks, to the worn and weathered pieces for the Seabees, to the colorful, cute outfits of the nurses when not on duty. My particular favorites were the colorful and patterned costumes for the nurses in “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair.”
Sound design by Jay Hilton is well-executed, with a strong balance throughout. The production features a fantastic orchestra as well, who play the sweeping score with great skill.
Lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker does a beautiful job supporting the world of the show through light and color. Chandrashaker plays with sunlight and shadow to great effect, illuminating the varying shades of the sky with gorgeous colors.
Costumes by designer Junghyun Georgia Lee and wigs and hair by designer Tommy Kurzman are perfect for the piece, from the clean and crisp military looks, to the worn and weathered pieces for the Seabees, to the colorful, cute outfits of the nurses when not on duty. My particular favorites were the colorful and patterned costumes for the nurses in “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair.”
Sound design by Jay Hilton is well-executed, with a strong balance throughout. The production features a fantastic orchestra as well, who play the sweeping score with great skill.
Joan Almedilla and the cast of South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski)
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Emjay Roa, Omar Lopez-Cepero, and Sky Vaux Fuller in South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals (Diane Sobolewski)
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South Pacific is a golden age classic that you won’t want to miss. From the lush production design to the impressive company, it’s definitely worth a trip whether you’re seeing the show for the first time or returning to the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein piece. Experience the production for yourself – see South Pacific at Goodspeed Musicals before it closes on August 11!
South Pacific runs June 14-August 11, 2024, at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, CT. Tickets are available online at goodspeed.org or by calling the Box Office at (860) 873-8668.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
South Pacific runs June 14-August 11, 2024, at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, CT. Tickets are available online at goodspeed.org or by calling the Box Office at (860) 873-8668.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.