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<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">SOUTH PACIFIC
lights up Porthouse</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics
Circle)</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Richard
Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein, Jr. are considered the fathers of modern American
musical theatre.<span style> </span>Their OKLAHOMA
opened the door to musicals with meaningful storylines, and the integration of
lyrics, dancing and music to help move the plot along.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">As with all
of Rogers and Hammerstein’s musicals, there is a strong societal and moral
base.<span style> </span>This aspect of their scripts
is usually highlighted by a key song.<span style>
</span>In SOUTH PACIFIC, which is the opening show of Porthouse Theatre’s 2013
season, it’s the poignant <i style>You Have to Be
Carefully Taught</i> which keys the concepts of racism and prejudice that
underscores the story.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Premiering in
1949, the original Broadway production, which starred Mary Martin and Ezio
Pinza, became the second longest running musical of its time.<span style> </span>That production won ten Tony
Awards.<span style> </span>A 1958 film and a 2008
revival were also critical and audience successes.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Based on
James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, THE TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC,
the World War II story relates a tale of Nelly Forbush, an army nurse from
Little Rock, Arkansas, who falls in love with Emile De Becque, a middle-aged
French expatriate plantation owner who has two mixed-race children, and a
parallel love story between Lt. Cable, also an American southerner, and Liat, a
Tonkinese woman.<span style> </span>Because of<span style> </span>Forbush and Cable having been imbued
with racial biases, both love affairs run into difficulties.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">The show is
imbedded with wonderful songs including <i style>Cockeyed
Optimist</i>, <i style>Some Enchanted Evening</i>,
<i style>Bali H’ai</i>, <i style>Younger Than Springtime</i>, <i style>Happy
Talk</i>, and <i style>Dites-Moi.</i></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Artistic
Director Terri Kent knows her Porthouse audience well, and SOUTH PACIFIC is
definitely their kind of show.<span style> </span>She
directs for audience enjoyment, creating a show filled with joy, sprinkled with
pathos.<span style> </span>She succeeds well.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Mary Ann
Black’s choreography is sprightly, Ben Needham’s set creates the right Pacific
Island atmosphere, and musical director Jonathan Swoboda does a good job with
the chorus and lead performers’ vocal sounds.<span style> </span>The dual pianos sound rather naked playing the lush
score.<span style> </span>This was a production that
could have been aided by a full orchestra.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Though her
needed Southern accent came and went, pretty Kayce Cummings (Green) generates
the right level of cutesiness to make for a charming Nellie.<span style> </span>Her <i style>I’m
Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair</i> was delightful.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Cleveland
area favorite Gregg Violand has advanced to the age level where he can use his
powerful voice to aid in developing a convincing Emile.<span style> </span>His consistent French accent adds to
the creation of a believable character.<span style>
</span>His <i style>This Nearly was Mine</i> was
beautifully interpreted and sung. There is a nice connection between Cummings
and Violand.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Tim Welsh
delights as the scheming con-man Luther Billis.<span style> </span><i style>Honey Bun</i>, sung
with the Cummings, was an audience favorite.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Kaishawn
Thomas was lovely as Liat and, though she didn’t quite play enough for the
requisite laughs, Coleen Longshaw was an acceptable Bloody Mary.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class=""><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGMENT:</span></i><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)"> Under the directing abilities of Terri Kent, the
Porthouse production of SOUTH PACIFIC makes for a fine evening of summer
entertainment.</span></i></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">SOUTH PACIFIC runs until
June 29 at Porthouse Theatre, on the grounds of Blossom Music Center.<span style> </span>For tickets call 330-672-3884 or go
online to <a href="http://www.porthousetheatre.com">www.porthousetheatre.com</a>.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">NEXT UP AT
PORTHOUSE:<span style> </span>WORKING,</span><span style="font-family:Palatino"> runs July 4-20, followed by </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, July 25-August 11.<span style> </span><span style>Curtain
time is</span> 8 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 PM Sundays. The picnic
grounds at Blossom open 90 minutes prior to curtain time.</span><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></span></p><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">
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