THEATER REVIEW : STARLIGHT ‘SOUTH PACIFIC’ SHINES

Only a handful of musicals can hold a candle to “South Pacific.” But the San Diego Civic Light Opera Assn. had neglected this classic for almost a decade until its revival bowed in at the Starlight Bowl Thursday night. Happily, this musical masterpiece is back in Balboa Park now, with most of its treasures nicely intact.

Starlight has assembled the strongest cast of the summer for its production, and everyone came through with flying colors on opening night. The beautiful set also stands out as the season’s best.

Director J. Sherwood Montgomery not only takes advantage of the on-stage possibilities, he also extends the action to the wooded area adjacent to the stage and even to the upper rim of the bowl, when appropriate.

The indomitable spirit of Nellie Forbush (the “cockeyed optimist” from Little Rock) is alive and well in Mary Donnelly’s portrayal. Donnelly, a Mississippi charmer, won Starlight audiences over in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” two seasons back, and she’s even more appealing as the Navy nurse in this production.

Donnelly breezes through the snappy tunes with a singing style that’s hard to resist. And when she teams up with her Frenchman for the romantic duos, the sparks never fail to fly.

Steven Kimbrough may be a stranger to San Diego audiences, but his credits span musical theater and opera. Both serve him well in the role of Emile De Becque, the suave French plantation owner, but Kimbrough takes most of his cues from Ezio Pinza (the original Emile), and that’s not a bad way to go.

Clark Sterling (Lt. Joseph Cable) is another newcomer to Starlight. As the young Marine officer, he sings the show’s most beautiful ballad (“Younger Than Springtime”) and its strongest indictment of prejudice (“You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught”). Fortunately, he has the voice to do both justice. But Sterling really triumphs in the latter, infusing the powerful song with a sharp edge of cynicism.

The serious theme that runs through “South Pacific” has a delightful flip side in the comic escapades of Luther Billis (E.E. Bell) and the Seabees (Starlight’s male chorus). As expected, they brought down the house on opening night with the shamefully sexist bauble, “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame.”

Bell did it again with “Honey Bun,” decked out in coconuts, a bare midriff (to show off a massive nautical tattoo) and army boots, when he teamed up with Nellie and the nurses. The male chorus also was in fine form Thursday night. Kudos to choral director Fred Rigby for getting them all shipshape in time for the opening performance.

Paula Chastain, as feisty Bloody Mary, supplies her own brand of mayhem in this “South Pacific.” But she delivers the haunting strains of “Bali Ha’i” with enough quiet calm to convince us that her home is indeed a special island.

The authors gave Liat (Bloody Mary’s nubile daughter) little to do in “South Pacific”--other than to look lovely and unspoiled. This Elisabeth Stringer does well enough with her downcast eyes, but without the facile grace needed for her mimed interpretation of “Happy Talk.”

San Diego choreographer Kenneth Everett Green returned to the Starlight fold to stage the dances for this production and once again he has made the most of every opportunity, even if the female dancers were too inhibited to do the same. Tara’s costumes are right as rain (except for a few quibbling details in the uniforms), and Barbara Du Bois’ lighting designs work in almost every instance.

The musical riches Rodgers and Hammerstein conjured up for “South Pacific” have lost none of their splendor, despite the acoustical shortcomings of the Starlight Bowl. Credit Starlight’s veteran conductor, Milton Greene, for keeping the orchestra on course (albeit a speeded-up one) through thick and thin.

“South Pacific” still towers above most of the musicals that make the rounds each summer. And this production is about as good as it gets at the Starlight Bowl.

“SOUTH PACIFIC” Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Hammerstein. Directed by J. Sherwood Montgomery. Choreographed by Kenneth Everett Green. Milton Greene is music director/conductor. Choral director is Fred Rigby. Costumes by Tara. Sound by Bill Lewis. Stars Steven Kimbrough, Mary Donnelly, Clark Sterling, E.E. Bell, Paula Chastain, Bob Howard, and Elisabeth Stringer. At 8:30 p.m. through Aug. 30 at the Starlight Bowl, Balboa Park.