South Pacific: Some Enchanted Opening NightAlmost exactly 59 years to the day after
Richard Rodgers and
Oscar Hammerstein II's landmark
South Pacific first opened at Broadway's
Majestic Theatre -- and a little more than 54 years after that same production
closed at the
Broadway Theatre -- the classic World War II musical based on
James Michener's "Tales Of The South Pacific" is finally set to open again on a Great White Way stage.
Directed by
Bartlett Sher, the first-ever revival of
South Pacific stars Broadway's current leading lady
Kelli O'Hara as Ensign Nellie Forbush and opera's
Paulo Szot as Emile De Beque. Other castmembers include
Matthew Morrison as Lt. Joseph Cable,
Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary,
Danny Burstein as Luther Billis and
Li Jun Li as Liat.
Back when
South Pacific first appeared a scant four years after World War II was won, it was revolutionary in its dignified depiction of mixed race couples, as well as in its revulsion over bigotry. The musical would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize and ten Tony Awards, including for Best Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (
Mary Martin) and Best Actor in a Musical (
Ezio Pinza).
Will critics want to wash this show right off of Broadway or will they provide some happy talk? Find out tomorrow as I provide my critics' capsule, along with my own SOB Review. Given that
The New York Times' Ben Brantley attended the same performance I saw, I'll be very interested to compare notes.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:Is Johansson's South Pacific Journey Just Happy Talk? (March 14, 2007)
Will Broadway's First-Ever South Pacific Revival Provide Some Enchanted Evenings? (December 19, 2006)
Labels: Bartlett Sher, Broadway, Danny Burstein, Kelli O'Hara, Matthew Morrison, Musical, Opening Night, Oscar Hammerstein II, Paulo Szot, Revival, Richard Rodgers, South Pacific
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The LooSo there I was yesterday, watching the very first
McLaughlin Group of 2008 when the panel began discussing Mike Huckabee's victory in Thursday's Iowa caucuses.
An image came on the screen of the Huckster's victory speech where he was framed, not by his family, but by Mr. and Mrs.
Chuck Norris (Gena O'Kelley). The
Chicago Tribune's
Clarence Page remarked that it demonstrated how pop culture was attracted to Huckabee's presidential candidacy.
Really?
Ironically, back in September 2006 when I last revisited
Wicked on Broadway, Norris and his spouse were seated directly across the aisle from me. I remember thinking to myself how interesting it was to see someone like the politically-conservative Norris -- who's most recently been relegated to sharing fitness tips with
Christie Brinkley on
infomercials -- taking in one of pop culture's true theatrical sensations. Even more interesting was that Norris clearly didn't like what he was seeing (I surmised it was due to the show's sly references to the current White House occupant). In fact, at intermission, Norris and O'Kelley walked out on the performance.
Another Sunday morning pundit,
Chris Matthews, turned up in my audience for
Cyrano de Bergerac. At least he appeared to enjoy himself -- I could hear his ... how shall I say this politely ...
distinguished laugh from a mile away. (Another celebrity sighting at that October performance was
Jennifer Garner's former castmate from "
Alias,"
Ron Rifkin).
Speaking of "distinguished" laughs, when I took in a
Steppenwolf opening performance of
The Unmentionables back in July 2006, I remember hearing this rather obnoxious laugh coming from behind me. Don't get me wrong. The play itself was a hoot. But this cackle was almost too much. When I turned around, who did I see but a "
Friends"-less
David Schwimmer.
Which brings me full circle back to yesterday.
One actor who clearly has a friend is
Bob Saget, whom I saw yesterday afternoon at the performance of
The Homecoming -- the former Man in Chair was in tow with
Danny Burstein, one of his co-stars from
The Drowsy Chaperone. I first spotted Saget as we were among the dozen or so men standing in line for the men's loo, waiting for a female to finish her business inside (seems the women's line was just too long for her). To his credit, the former "
Full House" star was quite affable, making a funny quip and kept his fellow liners entertained.
Call me crazy, but for some reason it made me wonder what Chuck Norris would do.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Bob Saget, Broadway, Chris Matthews, Chuck Norris, Cyrano de Bergerac, Danny Burstein, David Schwimmer, Mike Huckabee, Ron Rifkin, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Homecoming, The Unmentionables
