Opera
Australia and John Frost.
Director -
Bartlett Sher,
Musical
Director and Conductor – Stephen Gray
Crown
Theatre – Perth until 8th December 2013
Performance 12th
November 2013 - reviewed by
Bill Stephens
A trip to
Perth provided the opportunity to take a
second look at this much acclaimed production, which had just begun a four-week season in the Crown Theatre in Perth. Since my first viewing this
production has undergone several significant cast changes, so it was especially
interesting to see the effect of these changes on the show.
Teddy Tahu Rhodes (Emile de Becque) - Lisa McCune (Nellie Forbush) |
Lisa McCune
as Nellie Forbush, and Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Emile De Becque still
lead the company , and their performances have matured noticeably in the roles.
McCune’s Nellie Forbush is as engaging and fresh as ever, but her singing seems
even more confident and nuanced. Teddy
Tahu Rhodes now appears much more relaxed as De Becque and his characterisation
has deepened, but he is still inclined to just ‘stand and deliver’ his two big
ballads “Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly was Mine”, and with a voice
like his, who can blame him because both songs remain as thrilling as ever.
Mitchell Butell as Luther Billis |
Bartholomew
John, replacing John O’May, brings an agreeable gruffness to the role of
Captain Bracket. Mitchell Butell, the third actor to have a crack at the role
of Luther Billis, after Eddie Perfect and Gyton Grantley, is delightfully knock-about, likeable and funny
in the role.
In this
production, Bloody Mary is portrayed, not as a cheerful exotic islander, but
more as manipulative mother, desperate to make a better life for her daughter,
Liat. While there’s sympathy for her
plight, Bloody Mary is hard to like, particularly as played by Christine Anu, who brings
little warmth to the role, particularly in the decidedly uncomfortable scene where she harangues the obviously
ill Cable to marry Liat.
Blake
Bowden, replacing Daniel Koek as the young officer, Lieutenant Cable, is
certainly handsome and sings superbly, especially in “Younger than Springtime”, but he hasn’t yet developed a strong enough stage
presence to make his rather over-wrought rendition of “You’ve Got To Be
Carefully Taught” the show-stopping moment it should have been.
Elsewhere, the ensemble remain as energectic as ever, providing strong vocal back-up and performing Christopher Gattelli's inventive musical stagings with zing and enthusiasm.
Though spacious
and comfortable, the Crown Theatre is cavernous, with a very high ceiling, and
large proscenium which had the affect of making the production look a bit underwhelming. The voices
of the principals were so over-amphlfied
as to become disconcertingly dis-embodied at times, and the orchestra was smaller than at the Sydney Opera House, which
affected the lushness of the sound. However a second viewing allowed the
opportunity to focus on the imaginative direction of Bartlett Sher and how he has
refocussed many of the key moments to allow the production to flow effortlessly
from scene to scene, towards the climax which remains as affecting as ever.
After its Perth Season "South Pacific" moves on to Adelaide for a December 29th Opening.
After its Perth Season "South Pacific" moves on to Adelaide for a December 29th Opening.