Synopsis
South Pacific is set during World War II and follows the story of American nurse Nellie Forbush who is stationed on an island. It is a story of love and racism and has a strong moral message running throughout the show. Nellie has fallen in love with middle-aged, French plantation owner Emile de Becque, even though she has only known him for a short period of time. The show opens (after a brief scene with Emile's children) on the couple chatting and enjoying each others company. As it is a musical this opening is packed with songs including some of the most famous from the show where the couple recall how they met during "Some Enchanted Evening". Emile tells Nellie that he loves her and although she has to go she promises him that she will think about their relationship.
We are then introduced to the American Seabees and hear, through song of course, about the lack of women on their island since they are not allowed to go out with any of the nurses stationed there. Luther Billis is in charge of this rabble, an interesting character who is always looking to earn a quick buck. He has got his men making grass skirts with the hopes that he can undercut the work being done by the native girls and the formidable, Bloody Mary. Billis dreams of going to the local island of Bali Ha'i to witness the "Tooth Ceremony" although his fellow sailors are not fooled and realise that he just wants to go there to see the young french women. Lieutenant Cable arrives on the island to take part in a dangerous mission and Bloody Mary tries to persuade him to visit the mysterious island and Billis sees this as an oportunity to get over there (only officers can hire boats). Cable is not initially persuaded and goes off to meet his comanding officers.
The plan is definitely a dangerous one. Cable and Emile are to be dropped behind enemy lines as spies so that they can report back on the Japanese shipping positions. The officers are aware that Emile may need some persuading so ask Nellie what she knows about her love. It seems she doesn't know much at all and is not aware that the reason he left France was that he killed a man. She is shocked by this news and decides that her relationship with him must be over but he turns up and invites her to a party and Nellie knows that she must find out more about him. Emile admits to killing a man but claims that he is not sorry and that he was a bad man who deserves it. He proposes and Nellie accepts and so Emile refuses to help with the secret mission.
Cable is sent on leave for a while, since there is to be no mission, and he goes to the island with Billis and the other Seabees. Billis takes part in his ceremony and Cable falls in love with a young, beautiful native girl called Liat who turns out to be Bloody Mary's daughter. Whilst this is going on Emile and Nellie are enjoying their party and appear happy and in love. That is, until Emile introduces her to his children who were from his first marriage to a local Polynesian woman. Nellies prejudices are revealed here and she rushes from the party in tears saying she does not want to marry him anymore.
The Thanksgiving day show opens the second act with the nurses and GIs dancing and generally enjoying themselves. It is hosted by Nellie and she sings a fun number with Billis where they dress up as a sailor and a native girl, cross dressing to add to the humour. Through a number of glimpses backstage we learn that Cable has been visiting Liat many times but when Bloody Mary mentions marriage Cable says that he cannot marry a Tonkinese girl. Emile had been trying to see Nellie during the show and sees what Cable has just done and questions the Lieutenant on his prejudices (it's not something you're born with but something you're taught is Cable's reply). As both men are miserable they agree to go on the secret mission together to get off the island.
But the mission is just as dangerous as they had feared. Cable is killed between their broadcasts and Emile fears that he will never be able to be rescued and then goes missing. Nellie learns of this (she was not aware that he had gone) and realises that she has been foolish and that her prejudices should be forgotten. Nellie breaks the news to Liat that her love is dead and comforts the distraught girl. Due to the secret mission the men can finally get involved with the battle although Billis is not happy that Emile has been left on the island, lost and waiting to die. The fighters march off into the sunset and we are left in Emile's house where Nellie has been spending time with his children, even learning a little French from them. I won't give away the ending but I will say that we're nearly there!
We are then introduced to the American Seabees and hear, through song of course, about the lack of women on their island since they are not allowed to go out with any of the nurses stationed there. Luther Billis is in charge of this rabble, an interesting character who is always looking to earn a quick buck. He has got his men making grass skirts with the hopes that he can undercut the work being done by the native girls and the formidable, Bloody Mary. Billis dreams of going to the local island of Bali Ha'i to witness the "Tooth Ceremony" although his fellow sailors are not fooled and realise that he just wants to go there to see the young french women. Lieutenant Cable arrives on the island to take part in a dangerous mission and Bloody Mary tries to persuade him to visit the mysterious island and Billis sees this as an oportunity to get over there (only officers can hire boats). Cable is not initially persuaded and goes off to meet his comanding officers.
The plan is definitely a dangerous one. Cable and Emile are to be dropped behind enemy lines as spies so that they can report back on the Japanese shipping positions. The officers are aware that Emile may need some persuading so ask Nellie what she knows about her love. It seems she doesn't know much at all and is not aware that the reason he left France was that he killed a man. She is shocked by this news and decides that her relationship with him must be over but he turns up and invites her to a party and Nellie knows that she must find out more about him. Emile admits to killing a man but claims that he is not sorry and that he was a bad man who deserves it. He proposes and Nellie accepts and so Emile refuses to help with the secret mission.
Cable is sent on leave for a while, since there is to be no mission, and he goes to the island with Billis and the other Seabees. Billis takes part in his ceremony and Cable falls in love with a young, beautiful native girl called Liat who turns out to be Bloody Mary's daughter. Whilst this is going on Emile and Nellie are enjoying their party and appear happy and in love. That is, until Emile introduces her to his children who were from his first marriage to a local Polynesian woman. Nellies prejudices are revealed here and she rushes from the party in tears saying she does not want to marry him anymore.
The Thanksgiving day show opens the second act with the nurses and GIs dancing and generally enjoying themselves. It is hosted by Nellie and she sings a fun number with Billis where they dress up as a sailor and a native girl, cross dressing to add to the humour. Through a number of glimpses backstage we learn that Cable has been visiting Liat many times but when Bloody Mary mentions marriage Cable says that he cannot marry a Tonkinese girl. Emile had been trying to see Nellie during the show and sees what Cable has just done and questions the Lieutenant on his prejudices (it's not something you're born with but something you're taught is Cable's reply). As both men are miserable they agree to go on the secret mission together to get off the island.
But the mission is just as dangerous as they had feared. Cable is killed between their broadcasts and Emile fears that he will never be able to be rescued and then goes missing. Nellie learns of this (she was not aware that he had gone) and realises that she has been foolish and that her prejudices should be forgotten. Nellie breaks the news to Liat that her love is dead and comforts the distraught girl. Due to the secret mission the men can finally get involved with the battle although Billis is not happy that Emile has been left on the island, lost and waiting to die. The fighters march off into the sunset and we are left in Emile's house where Nellie has been spending time with his children, even learning a little French from them. I won't give away the ending but I will say that we're nearly there!
Characters
- Ensign Nellie Forbush - An American Nurse who falls for Emile but lets her prejudices get in the way of true love.
- Emile de Beque - French plantation owner, much older than Nellie, who has fallen for her too and wants to marry her.
- Lieutenant Cable - A white American who has been drafted onto the island to complete a dangerous mission behind enemy lines.
- Liat - A teenage girl who is being sold off in marriage by her mother but who falls desperately in love with her would be husband.
- Bloody Mary - Liat's mother and the grass skirt vendor of the island.
- Luther Billis - A Seabee who has a good heart and provides much comic relief.
- Jerome and Ngana - Emile's children.
Popular Songs
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There is Nothing Like a Dame - the men on the island are pining after the love of a good woman!
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Creators
Music by Richard Rogers
Rogers (1902-1979) was a prolific American composer for musicals, film and television. He wrote more than 900 songs and contributed to 43 broadway musicals. He is best known for his parterships with Oscar Hammerstein (with whom he wrote South Pacific) and Lorenz Hart. He worked with Hart on many musicals until Hart's alcoholism became out of control and he turned to Hammerstein to form a new partnership. Rodgers was the first person to win all the top awards in the industry - an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony - and has won a Pulitzer Prize (for South Pacific). Other musicals he wrote with Hammerstein include Carousel, The King and I and The Sound of Music.
Rogers (1902-1979) was a prolific American composer for musicals, film and television. He wrote more than 900 songs and contributed to 43 broadway musicals. He is best known for his parterships with Oscar Hammerstein (with whom he wrote South Pacific) and Lorenz Hart. He worked with Hart on many musicals until Hart's alcoholism became out of control and he turned to Hammerstein to form a new partnership. Rodgers was the first person to win all the top awards in the industry - an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony - and has won a Pulitzer Prize (for South Pacific). Other musicals he wrote with Hammerstein include Carousel, The King and I and The Sound of Music.
Lyrics and book/script by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) was an American theatre producer, musical director and librettist. He won two Academy Awards and eight Tony Awards during his long career and co-wrote 850 songs, many of which are still popular today, especially with jazz musicians. He collaborated with many composers but his partnership with Rodgers was the most famous. Oscar was named after his grandfather who was a German born theatre impresario who would have been charged by theatre owners to hire composers and actors for their new shows, much like a television producer would do now. Hammerstein II died of stomach cancer at the age of 65, not long after The Sound of Music opened on Broadway. The final song he wrote was Edelweiss which many thought was a genuine Austrian folk song but was written specifically for the musical.
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) was an American theatre producer, musical director and librettist. He won two Academy Awards and eight Tony Awards during his long career and co-wrote 850 songs, many of which are still popular today, especially with jazz musicians. He collaborated with many composers but his partnership with Rodgers was the most famous. Oscar was named after his grandfather who was a German born theatre impresario who would have been charged by theatre owners to hire composers and actors for their new shows, much like a television producer would do now. Hammerstein II died of stomach cancer at the age of 65, not long after The Sound of Music opened on Broadway. The final song he wrote was Edelweiss which many thought was a genuine Austrian folk song but was written specifically for the musical.
Book/script by Joshua Logan
Logan (1908-1988) was an American stage and film director and writer. He began his career as an actor on Broadway in the 1932 production of Carry Nation before moving to London where he worked as an assistant stage manager. He spent a little time in Hollywood before directing a show in Broadway which ran for a year. He directed 5 more shows before he was enlisted to the U.S. Army for World War II. When the war ended he returned to Broadway, directing productions such as Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific, the later of which he has a writing credit for and was honoured with a Tony award for Best Director. He was originally not included in reviews as co-writer and as such was also initially missed off the Pulitzer prize that the show recieved. This mistake was later rectified but has led mostly to Logan being forgotten when the history of this musical is discussed.
Logan (1908-1988) was an American stage and film director and writer. He began his career as an actor on Broadway in the 1932 production of Carry Nation before moving to London where he worked as an assistant stage manager. He spent a little time in Hollywood before directing a show in Broadway which ran for a year. He directed 5 more shows before he was enlisted to the U.S. Army for World War II. When the war ended he returned to Broadway, directing productions such as Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific, the later of which he has a writing credit for and was honoured with a Tony award for Best Director. He was originally not included in reviews as co-writer and as such was also initially missed off the Pulitzer prize that the show recieved. This mistake was later rectified but has led mostly to Logan being forgotten when the history of this musical is discussed.
Productions
South Pacific was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning 1947 book by James A Michener called "Tales of the South Pacific". It created controversy, especially in the Southern U.S., due to the racial theme and the authors were glad to raise these issues.
It opened on Broadway in 1949 and ran for 1925 performances being a great success and immediate hit. At the time it was the second-longest running Broadway musical, only being beaten by Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Several of the songs were written with the specific talents of the already cast leads (Nellie and Emile) in mind. South Pacific won ten Tony Awards and remains the only musical to win Tony awards in all the four acting categories. This original production closed on January 16th, 1954 and after the show the curtain did not fall but was left raised whilst the audience left the theatre.
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The show opened on the West End in 1951 and ran there for 802 performances at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. Logan directed this production which was seen on January 31, 1952 by King George VI and his daughter Princess Elizabeth. He died less than a week later but I'm sure we can't blame the musical for this.
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In 1958 a film adaptation of the musical was released staring Juanita Hall reprising the role of Bloody Mary she had played in the original Broadway production although her singing was dubbed as were many of the other singers. The producers had also wanted Emile and Nellie to be portrayed by the original cast but Ezio Pinza had died in 1957. Coloured filters were used during many of the songs in the film which has led to much criticism. Logan had intended these to create subtle changes but the effect was much more dramatic than intended. The biggest difference between the film and the stage show is that the first two scenes are switched so that the film opens with the Seabees and Bloody Mary and Emile does not appear until around the 30 minute mark.
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Interesting facts
- Sean Connery was a Seabee in the original West End production.
- Doris Day was offered the role of Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film but passed. Elizabeth Taylor was auditioned but was rejected after the directors heard her sing.
- "We have set up quarters in a mango tree. No room, but a lovely view" is one of my favourite spoken lines from the show but most people miss it when it's said over the radio it passes by so quickly.
- The voice of Stewpot in the film (and the clip shown above) was dubbed by Thurl Ravenscroft who was also the voice of Tony the Tiger!
Am Dram Corner
This was the first show I performed in after a long break from the stage for university and when I started working. I had a fantastic time in this show and am so glad I joined this amazing company. Here are just a couple of videos of our production.
Our version of "There is nothing like a Dame"
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She's gonna wash that man right out of her hair, complete with real water from the shower!
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