THEATER REVIEW : ‘South Pacific’ Floats on a Soothing Sea of Nostalgia

Torch singer Andrea Marcovicci once pointed out that “Some Enchanted Evening,” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1949 “South Pacific,” is a song that has messed up generations of women.

But that song’s picture of perfect love--instantaneous and forever--is at the very heart of this show, one of the problematic classics of American musical theater. In a new production that opened Wednesday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, “South Pacific” is both problematic and classic.

If the people who run the Alex wanted to avoid controversy and soothe alienated subscribers--11,000 of them were stiffed out of a full season last year when the company programming the theater declared bankruptcy--they picked a suitable Rodgers and Hammerstein work, the team’s fourth musical together.

“South Pacific” is constantly performed in amateur productions across the country--its lovely score is timeless--but it has never had a major revival of the kind enjoyed by “Oklahoma!” (1979) and “Carousel” (1992). In this critic’s view, the main characters are as bland as white bread, despite the lessons of racial tolerance that permeate the music. In its day, “South Pacific” was a huge success, running almost 2,000 performances and snagging a Pulitzer Prize.

But today, the once controversial story seems incredibly mild. Can Nellie Forbush find the tolerance to marry a rich, adoring, handsome, older Frenchman who has two children by a Polynesian mistress? Can Lt. Cable find the tolerance to marry the beautiful young Polynesian woman he has fallen in love with? It takes some courage, but yes, they can.

The setting: the French-run islands of the South Pacific during World War II. French planter Emile de Becque (Jack Jones) and American nurse Forbush (Lorna Patterson) have fallen instantly in love. Later, Lt. Cable (Robert Patteri) will fall instantly in love with Liat (Akemi Welsh), daughter of local character Bloody Mary (Armelia McQueen). Theater-goers won’t mind that everyone falls in love on sight because the songs they sing about it are so beautiful (“Some Enchanted Evening” for Emile; “Younger Than Springtime” for Cable).

*

The pleasure of hearing the score, however, is marred by the sound design at the Alex, a lovely theater that, though a bit large at 1,450 seats, is not so large that the orchestra needs to be amplified to the degree it is. All sound emanates from speakers mounted on shelves on either side of the stage. No music at all seems to becoming from the orchestra pit. The show sounds as prepackaged as it sometimes looks.

Jack Jones stars as the Frenchman, looking appropriately serene and handsome. In a white suit, with his velvety white hair and holding white flowers, he is practically a vision. As an actor, he is stiff, but then Emile is so utterly uninteresting. Although Jones doesn’t quite make his highest notes, he sings richly, allowing only one lounge-singer affectation into the show--he clips the “some” on “some enchanted evening” in a cheesy way. As Nellie, Patterson has the most effortless voice in the show. She is fresh, in a familiar, spunky Miss America way, radiating decency even during her moments of doubt about Emile’s past.

Patteri performs a decent, if all-purpose Cable. He sings a celebrated feature of the musical, the cry for tolerance called “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,” in a burst of anger. As Bloody Mary, McQueen sings with relish but her gestures and movements are very much in the great amateurish tradition: move this arm, then that arm, then both arms. In the ensemble, David Ruprecht stands out as the clownish Marine Luther Billis, shamelessly and adorably on the make at all times.

Director Gary Davis has provided a by-the-numbers production, soothingly familiar, from the torrid purple South Pacific sky painted on a backdrop to the predictable dance steps by Patti Colombo. For those who like nostalgia with a little star power, this “South Pacific” is for you.

* “South Pacific,” Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 2 p.m.; Sun. 7 p.m. Ends Sunday. $32.50. (800) 233-3123. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.

Jack Jones Emile de Becque

Lorna Patterson Nellie Forbush

Megan McDonnell Ngana

Kyle McDonnell Jerome

Armelia McQueen Bloody Mary

David Ruprecht Luther Bills

Robert Patteri Lt. Joseph Cable

Akemi Welsh Liat

With: Frank Stancati, Erik Garcia, Karl Warkentien, Dink O’Neal, John Herzog, Doug Carfrae, Robert Loftin, Eric Leviton, Gail Abrahamson, Kim Arnett, Elna Binckes, Robert Clater, Bernard Dotson, Andy Ferrara, Michelle Kear, Matt Kubicek, Wendy Miklovic, Troy Saviola, Merry Simkins, Tony Spinosa, Tanya Starling, Kristi Young.

M. Edleman presents a Theater League production. Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. Directed by Gary Davis. Sets Vicki Baral and Gerry Hariton. Lights Kim Killingsworth. Sound Mark Cowburn. Costumes Debbie Roberts. Choreography Patti Colombo. Music director Lloyd Cooper. Production Supervisor John M. Galo.