South Pacific (West Bromwich Operatic Society)
Hidden away in the darkest depths of Sedgeley is a venue that probably doesn’t get as much use as it should, currently converted to a tropical beach during World War II by West Bromwich Operatic Society for the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic South Pacific.
Ensign Nellie Forbush (played with exquisite charm by Laura Stanford) strikes up a relationship with a man with hidden secrets, French plantation owner Emile De Becque (portrayed with panache by John Wetherall). Strangely the age difference and the fact that he’s running away from a murder in his youth are not the challenges Miss Forbush struggles with, rather his two children from a previous Polynesian wife, something that defines the era.
Simultaneously Lieutenant Joseph Cable (George Stuart cutting a fine figure with an even finer voice) arrives on the island on a mission to provide key information to the allied forces to allow them to defeat the Japanese. He needs a man with local knowledge and De Becque is top of his list but, the romance with Miss Forbush delays the mission.
With an eye for a 'quick buck' from the locals, the nurses, in fact anybody, SeaBee Luther Billis (a comic genius at work in Andy Foggin) realises Lieutenant Cable is his passage to the off limits Bali Ha'i island were all the young local females have been hidden. His plans are thwarted initially but, as with anything Billis wants he ultimately gets as he, Joe Cable and Bloody Mary (local entrepreneur selling grass skirts and shrunken heads to name just a few items and played outlandishly by Helen Hogan) take a trip to Bali Ha'i.
In what can only be described as flagrant matchmaking Joe finds himself completely smitten with Liat (Beth Logan) young daughter of Bloody Mary but, the relationship is doomed to failure because of cultural differences which as the song goes, 'you have to be carefully taught'.
There is much to like about this production and whilst it highlights how the world has changed since the 1940s it has a naive and long lasting charm as have many from the stable of Rodgers & Hammerstein.
Directed with sincerity by Sarah Moors, along with a host of well know songs overseen by the musically omnipotent Adam Joy, I would seriously recommend a viewing before this production ends on Saturday 30th September 2017.
Book Here
With an eye for a 'quick buck' from the locals, the nurses, in fact anybody, SeaBee Luther Billis (a comic genius at work in Andy Foggin) realises Lieutenant Cable is his passage to the off limits Bali Ha'i island were all the young local females have been hidden. His plans are thwarted initially but, as with anything Billis wants he ultimately gets as he, Joe Cable and Bloody Mary (local entrepreneur selling grass skirts and shrunken heads to name just a few items and played outlandishly by Helen Hogan) take a trip to Bali Ha'i.
In what can only be described as flagrant matchmaking Joe finds himself completely smitten with Liat (Beth Logan) young daughter of Bloody Mary but, the relationship is doomed to failure because of cultural differences which as the song goes, 'you have to be carefully taught'.
There is much to like about this production and whilst it highlights how the world has changed since the 1940s it has a naive and long lasting charm as have many from the stable of Rodgers & Hammerstein.
Directed with sincerity by Sarah Moors, along with a host of well know songs overseen by the musically omnipotent Adam Joy, I would seriously recommend a viewing before this production ends on Saturday 30th September 2017.
Book Here
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