North End Players' current show is Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic
musical "South Pacific". The well known story of innocent, young, Navy
Ensign Nellie Forbush falling in love with middle-aged French plantation
owner. Emile De Becque during World War II. It also contains the secondary
story of Lt. Joe Cable falling in love with a Tokinese girl, Liat, the
daughter of Bloody Mary, the saleswoman of island wares. The prejudice of
people against each other is as important a message now as it was back in
the 1940's. Throw in assorted sailors, nurses, two children and two officers
and you have the necessary ingredients for this well made musical
presentation.
Directors Lynn Nadrowski and Frank O'Donnell assemble a wonderful cast
to pull off these roles while musical director Brian Mullaney accompanies
the cast on the keyboards while Lisa Calkins taught all the harmonies of the
songs to the cast. Lisa is also terrific as Nellie. She is a pretty red head
who not only has a beautiful singing voice but is wonderful as the wide-eyed
hick who sees life in this exotic place for the first time. Her songs
include "A Cock-eyed Optimist", "Wash That Man", "Wonderful Guy" and "Honey
Bun" Bill Beatini does a wonderful job as the middle-aged French planter who
falls in love with Nellie. His songs include "Some Enchanted Evening'' and
"This Nearly Was Mine". Lynn does double duty in the show as director and
plays the comic role of Bloody Mary. She garners many laughs with her funny
one liners and gets to sing the lovely "Bali Hai" and the comic "Happy
Talk". Willie Beatini is splendid as Joe Cable. His tenor voice soars off
the charts in "Younger Than Springtime" and "You've Got to Be Taught". His
lover, Liat is played by Jessica Morris.
Crusty Captain Brackett who keeps his men in line is played by veteran
actor, Carl Desimone while second in command, Commander Harbison is well
played by Bobby Ricci. They both show off their singing voices in "Nothing
Like A Dame". One of the biggest scene stealers in this show is John Morris
as Luther Billis. His devious salesman and womanizer shows through and his
"Honey Bun" outfit is a hoot. His two sidekicks Stewpot and Professor are
well played by Billy Flynn and George Paquin while the two children played
by Siara Padilla and Kyle Ross are cute as buttons. Kudos to everyone who
makes this into a wonderful show. Have a terrific run.
SOUTH PACIFIC ( 29 September to 6 October, 2007)
North End Players, North Providence High School,
1828 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence,RI
