(Dallas
Caulkins and Njabulo Mthimkhulu who alternated in the roles of
Nellie Forbush and Emile)
Collaboration of two universities presents
enjoyable production. (Review by Keith Millar)
(My apologies
– this review should have gone out weeks ago, but Grahamstown disrupted the
process! Editor)
As part of a collaboration which dates from
the year 2000 Professor Barbara Hill Moore from Southern Methodist University, Dallas,
Texas has brought a group of singers and dancers to Durban to join talented
young performers from UKZN in an enjoyable production of Rogers and
Hammerstein’s musical, South Pacific.
Considered to be one of the great Broadway
musicals, South Pacific is set at a
American Naval Base in the South Pacific Islands during World War 11. It tells
the story of an American Nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush who falls in love with an
expatriate French plantation owner, Emile de Becque. She struggles to come to
terms with his past and his mixed race children.
A second romance concerns a US Marine
Lieutenant, Joseph Cable, who falls in love with a young Polynesian woman from
the Islands.
All this is played out against a background
of war, spying and heroism. The music from South Pacific is memorable and
timeless and was very well performed by the cast from the two universities.
The production features a double cast and
on Friday evening the role of Nellie Forbush was played by Dallas Caulkins. She
gave a engaging and confidant performance and did justice to her songs which
include A Cock-eyed Optimist, I’m Gonna
Wash That Man Right Out-a My Hair, I’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy and Honey Bun.
Friday’s Emile was Njabulo Mthimkhulu. He
has a beautiful baritone voice with a strong, rich timbre. He did an excellent
job in delivering Some Enchanted Evening
and This Nearly Was Mine.
My favourite was Moreta Irchiri playing the
worldly-wise market vendor Bloody Mary. She has a lovely singing voice and gave
an excellent performance of Bali Hai
and Happy Talk. The ensemble singing
was also good with the sailors’ performance of There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame being particularly noteworthy.
Production and Musical Direction is by
Barbara Hill Moore, while Roger Bennett Riggle is responsible for direction and
choreographer. Lionel Mkhwanazi is the
Associate Producer and Chorus Master.
While the music performance in this
production is first-rate, there are some limitations when it came to acting. Also
the sets, costumes, lighting and sound were kept very simple which is a pity
because the quality of the singing could easily have supported something a
little more elaborate.
Another disappointing aspect was the
decision to hide the very good four -piece backing band somewhere backstage.
The lack of visual presence and a decidedly “off mic” sound resulted in a
strange music mix. This was particularly apparent during the overture which
featured Barbara Hill Moore conducting nothing more than a little camera on
stage. – Keith Millar
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