South Pacific
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The Writing of South Pacific
Commentary and writing tips by Noel Katz
In most musicals, the romantic outcome really isn't in doubt. Boy meets girl, and it's a safe bet boy will end up with girl. In South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein (along with Joshua Logan) create considerable dramatic tension. The obstacles the romantic couples go through are so nettlesome, we're never confident of the conclusion.
Like the musical Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote immediately after, The King and I, South Pacific deals with cross-cultural communication, and ingrained (or "carefully taught") prejudice is the greatest obstacle of them all. The war with Japan has hurtled the American servicemen to distant and exotic shores. We're instantly fascinated by the way they relate to the "locals," particularly, Bloody Mary. The sailors compare her skin to DiMaggio's glove, not without affection, but could any of them build a workable marriage with her beautiful daughter?
Hammerstein knew that musical theatre fans will always root for true love to prevail, and the fact that this daughter speaks not a word of English is the least of the obstacles. Cagily, the American characters come from places known for their prejudice: Lt. Cable is from haughty Philadelphia; Nellie is from Little Rock, Arkansas. The course of their romances with exotic and accented people can't possibly run smooth.
Nellie appeals to us because of her never-cynical faith in things. She describes herself as a cock-eyed optimist, believes a little shampoo can wash man troubles away, and brilliantly exults in the love of a wonderful guy. But discovering Emile has children from a previous relationship with a now-dead Polynesian woman is harder for her to accept than the fact Emile once killed a man in his native France.
The previous Rodgers and Hammerstein hits also featured two couples - a primary one and a secondary comic one. I like South Pacific a little less because both couples are so serious, and that native girl doesn't even speak. The comic relief provided by Bloody Mary and a sailor named Luther is essential. The authors find humor against the backdrop of war. And, as usual, Hammerstein doesn't shy away from the sexual side of things. Take a good look at "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" and observe how, with no embarrassment, it mines comedy out of the sailors' state of unrequited lust.
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DVD
South
Pacific (DVD) from Amazon.com Original 1958 film version starring
Mitzi Gaynor. DVD special features include the overture, intermission, and
exit music as well as a Movietone News Trailer.
Rodgers
& Hammerstein's South Pacific (DVD) from Amazon.com 2001
Television version starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jr. DVD special
features incldue: deleted scenes and a behind the scenes documentary.
South
Pacific in Concert from Carnegie Hall (DVD) from Amazon.com 2006
televised concert starring Reba McEntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Alec
Baldwin.
Cast Recordings
South
Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast) from Amazon.com Starring
Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza. Songs incldue: Overture, Dites-moi, A Cockeyed
Optimist, Twin Soliloquies, Some Enchanted Evening, Bloody Mary, There Is
Nothin' like A Dame, Bali Ha'i, I'm Gonna Wash that Man right outa My Hair,
A Wonderful Guy, Younger than Springtime, Happy Talk, Honey Bun, You've Got
to be Carefully Taught, This Nearly Was Mine, Finale: Dites-moi (reprise),
Loneliness of Evening, My Girl Back Home, Bali-Ha'i, and South Pacific: Symphonic
Scenario for Concert Orchestra
South
Pacific (1958 Film Soundtrack) from Amazon.comRemastered reissue
of the original soundtrack recording. Songs include: South Pacific Overture,
Dites-Moi, Cock-Eyed Optimist, Twin Soliloquies/Some Enchanted Evening, Bloody
Mary, My Girl Back Home, There Is Nothin' Like A Dame, Bali Ha'i, I'm Gonna
Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy, Younger
Than Springtime, Happy Talk, Honey Bun, Carefully Taught, This Nearly Was
Mine, and Finale
South
Pacific in Concert from Carnegie Hall from Amazon.com
Sheet Music
"Some Enchanged Evening" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"This Nearly Was Mine" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Younger Than Springtime" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Honey Bun" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Bali Ha'i" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"There Is Nothin' Like A Dame" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"You've Got To Be Carefully Taught" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Happy Talk" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Bloody Mary" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Twin Soliloquies (This Is How It Feels)" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
"Dites-Moi (Tell Me Why)" from Musicnotes.com Instant digital download sheet music.
South Pacific (Vocal Score) from Musicnotes.com
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