South Pacific

[Derek McGovern]

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific is one of my favourite musicals,
and the new Broadway production of it has been the subject of much
debate recently on Opera-L, with its members passionately comparing
the original Broadway version with the latest. (The pro-Ezio Pinza
faction there have been amusingly militant :-), while the anti-Pinza
brigade has resorted to calling him "a fat old geezer".) Here's an
interesting piece from the New York Times on this new production,
together with a slideshow and commentary from the rising Brazilian
baritone Paulo Szot (pronounced "shot"), whose performance as Emile de
Becque has garnered rave reviews:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/theater/06gree.html slideshow & commentary

Has anybody here actually attended a performance -- or, for that
matter, heard the new Broadway cast recording? Here's the Amazon link
to the latter:

http://www.amazon.com/Rodgers-Hammersteins-South-Pacific-Broadway/dp/B0017I1G0W/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1212798347&sr=8-1

[Joe Fagan]

Hi Derek, like you I love all Rogers & Hammerstein works....and especially
South Pacific. I have not seen this version....but you know the version I
really fell in love with?? : the concert done @ Carnegie Hall with Brian
Stokes Mitchell! I mention this because I know * you * have that CD also.
Even without the scenery and the reading of the lines on stage...I just
found this to be the most enjoyable presentation of them all. Stokes was
magnificent as De Beque. I see this CD advertised on Amazon a lot now, at
reduced prices...I highly recommend it to the forum. ( but maybe you might
give your opinion as well, Derek?)

[Sam]

I caught the two principals singing "Some Enchanted Evening" on TV
just the other day. The girl (as Nellie) was pretty and has a nice
voice. The man (as Emile) is pretty much the same. Neither of them are
up to the caliber of the Concert DVD on "South Pacific" mentioned
above. The voices are superior. I have played that disc countless
times!

> >http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/theater/06gree.htmlslideshow &

> > commentary
>
> > Has anybody here actually attended a performance -- or, for that
> > matter, heard the new Broadway cast recording? Here's the Amazon link
> > to the latter:
>

> >http://www.amazon.com/Rodgers-Hammersteins-South-Pacific-Broadway/dp/...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Derek McGovern]

On 6/13/08, Joe Fagan <jora...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Derek, like you I love all Rogers & Hammerstein works....and especially
> South Pacific. I have not seen this version....but you know the version I
> really fell in love with?? : the concert done @ Carnegie Hall with Brian
> Stokes Mitchell! I mention this because I know * you * have that CD also.
> Even without the scenery and the reading of the lines on stage...I just
> found this to be the most enjoyable presentation of them all. Stokes was
> magnificent as De Beque. I see this CD advertised on Amazon a lot now, at
> reduced prices...I highly recommend it to the forum. ( but maybe you might
> give your opinion as well, Derek?)

Hi Joe: It's been a couple of years since I played the DVD of the 2005
Carnegie Hall South Pacific (and I haven't had time to sit down &
watch it again), but I do remember liking Brian Stokes Mitchell's
performance as Emile very much. I wasn't as keen on Reba McEntire as
Nellie, though: she's gives a very spirited performance, but the
problem is that she's a country singer -- and that "twang" and country
style did intrude a bit, I felt. It just didn't feel right for Rodgers
& Hammerstein. Then again, I prefer Mitzi Gaynor's singing in the 1958
film to that of Mary Martin on the original Broadway LP, so perhaps
I'm just contrary :-)

I was just thinking that I've yet to hear a recording of South Pacific
on which all three leads are equally good! In the film, for example,
Tozzi did a fine job on the vocals (for Brazzi's on-screen Emile), but
the weak link was Bill Lee (providing the vocals for John Kerr), who
really didn't have enough voice to do justice to the songs of Lt.
Cable. (Bill Lee was the same fellow who provided the vocals for
Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music. Tellingly, many people
assumed it *was* Plummer singing, since the voice was nothing flash!)

Actually, Carreras did a very nice job as Emile (with the music
transposed *up*, of course) on a 1986 recording with Kiri Te Kanawa
and Mandy Patinkin. The video of the making of this recording was
interesting too, with poor old Kiri suffering terribly as she
repeatedly fails to get the melody right in the Twin Soliloquys
("Wonder how it feels/living on a hillside..."). Patinkin put lots of
personality into his Lt. Cable, but tended to speak his way through
his songs to a certain degree. And Sarah Vaughan made an interesting
if musically wayward Bloody Mary!

[Muriel]

South Pacific won quite a few trophies at the Tony Awards last night,
including Paulo Szot for best actor and also taking the outstanding
musical prize. It seems this is the year of the musical revival, as
Gypsy, Grease, and Sunday in the Park With George are being played
again as well. I liked the clip of Szot's de Becque. His operatic
voice adds a richness that holds up along with the voices of Pinza and
Tozzi (in the film). I have the Carnegie Hall DVD too and have to say
that Brian Stokes Mitchell is wonderful in the role.

If I have to pick a favorite, I'd choose the 1958 film as that was my
introduction to South Pacific. I recall seeing it while on vacation at
the beach and the South Sea setting fit in well with my sand and sea
venue. Brazzi made a fine handsome Emile and Mitzi Gaynor was a
perfect Nellie, and, that beautiful scenery captured my fancy. I have
the original cast recording with Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza and I
agree that Ms Gaynor was a perkier Nellie than Ms Martin. It's likely
that I'd have chosen the original if I had had the great opportunity
to see it on stage - nothing like a live Broadway play to steal your
heart. (I saw Hairspray on Broadway and much prefer it over the film
version - fickle me!)

Strangely, Reba McIntyre's Nellie probably came closer to the intended
character, as Nellie came from Arkansas, where the accent is much like
hers. I can't take anything away from her performance, but seeing the
production with other the entire cast and real scenery is hard to
beat.

I agree with Derek re the Lt. Cable character. John Kerr always seemed
a little on the wimpy side to me and the person singing for him didn't
help him in that area. I didn't realize he sang for Christopher
Plummer in Sound of Music. It's true he didn't make a lasting
impression in that job either. Good thing the Baron's singing was only
a minor contribution to that fabulous film!

South Pacific is a powerful musical work and I hope it will be around
for many many years! Rodgers and Hammerstein are certainly an
immortal team!! I'll have to look for the Carreras/Te Kanawa recording
as I liked what they did together in West Side Story.
Ciao, Muriel

On Jun 14, 2:21 am, "Derek McGovern" <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Sam]

Hi Muriel,
Since you like the film South Pacific so much (as do I), I
thought you might like to know some inside information I just learned
about the singing. Just about the only one whose real voice was used
was Mitzi Gaynor! This means that Rossano Brazzi as Emile, Ray Walston
as Billis, John Kerr as Lt. Cable, and even Juanita Hall as Bloody
Mary were ALL dubbed. What is really curious is that Hall played the
role on stage and was still dubbed for the movie. Sometimes you wonder
what Hollywood was thinking. In any event, when Mario played Cable he
used his own voice for Younger Than Springtime!!!

> > if musically wayward Bloody Mary!- Hide quoted text -

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Sam: The reason Juanita Hall's singing was dubbed in South Pacific
was that when it came time to make the film in 1958, Richard Rodgers
was no longer happy with her vocal quality. If you listen to her on
the 1949 Broadway original cast album, the voice -- even then -- was a
little worn, especially in comparison with that of Muriel Smith (the
London creator of the Bloody Mary role), whose voice Hall lip-synched
to in the film. I think Rodgers made the right choice.

If I had to choose between a film actor providing his/her own mediocre
singing and an actor lip-synching to a superior voice, I'd definitely
choose the latter. Too many film musicals have been spoiled by
non-singers inexplicably doing their own singing. Think of Vanessa
Redgrave in Camelot or Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin in Paint Your
Wagon!

[Lou]

Hi Derek, Sam and Muriel: Have you seen the 2001 made-for-TV South
Pacific film (also available on DVD) starring Glenn Close as Nellie,
Harry Connick, Jr. as Lt. Cable, and Rade Sherbedzija as Emile? All
three as well as the Bloody Mary sing in their own voices. Internet
chat room visitors have grumbled that 54-year-old Close is too old to
play Nellie and that Sherbedzija, a gentle high baritone, is miscast
for being the only Emile who does not sing with an operatic voice.
These "drawbacks" notwithstanding, it was reported that the film was
watched by some 16 million TV viewers, obtained respectable TV
ratings, was given a rave review by Newsweek, and was praised by Mary
Rodgers (who represents her father's interest) as the best acted South
Pacific she had ever seen. (I understand it was Mary Rodgers who
referred to Ezio Pinza as "a fat old geezer.") Personally, I would
have preferred an Emile who sings with Pinza's voice, but for his love
interest, I'm more comfortable with Close's ageless Nellie than
Gaynor's 20 something ingenue. (I've never held with cradle-
snatching.)

[Mike McAdam]

Lou: I had the fortuitous opportunity ;-) to hear Glenn Close sing in
an Andrew Lloyd Webber tribute on the telly a few years back. I
flipped to the channel just as a lone spotlight illuminated a long-
robed figure, in long-shot, with close-fitting headgear and the
announcer stated, "ladies and gentlemen, Ms Glenn Close". I didn't
realize it was one of my favourite actreses until she sang the opening
notes and the camera moved to a facial close-up. What a stunningly
powerful voice. Almost knocked my socks off! Talk about hiding your
(other) light under a bushel basket? If she hasn't had operatic
training in her earlier years I'll eat those same socks (er...well,
maybe one of them? :-))
M.

> > Wagon!- Hide quoted text -

[Joe Fagan]

I saw it and to be candid, did not care much for it. Did not like the
singing. For my money, I will still take the Carnegie Hall Production.
Sorry.

Joe

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Lou: Yes, I was aware of that made-for-TV version of South Pacific,
and I'd be interested in seeing it. I've read that Glenn Close is an
experienced Broadway musical performer, so I presume she coped with
Nellie's songs.

I can't understand Mary Rodgers' "fat old geezer" comment about Pinza!
I was just watching one of his films the other day (made after South
Pacific), and Pinza was still a striking figure -- and certainly not
remotely "fat".

> > Wagon!- Hide quoted text -

[Derek McGovern]

(Note: The following post is from Aline. She'd inadvertently created a
new thread on this subject, so I've simply moved her post here.)

Mike: The Andrew Lloyd Webber salute was a promotional for PBS and I
donated enough to get the video. I was surprised as well to hear such
a voice coming out of Glenn Close. I'm sure she must have operatic
training. It was quite a show and I watch it often. Andrew is a
genius. I watched the try-outs for Maria in his production of The
Sound of Music....it was the Canadian auditions. Did you see it?

Aline

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Muriel]

I did not see that TV film of South Pacific, but I'll keep an eye out
for it if it's ever reprised. I'm sure I've missed many shows like
this over the years - guess I'll have to actually *read* the TV
Guide....

[Aline staires]

Sorry again, Derek. But I,due to my ineptitude with a computer,  lost the message from Mike and tho't I had it right. Guess I'll never learn!!! So solly please.... Aline   -------Original Message-------

From: Derek McGovern Date: 06/18/08 13:18:37 To: The Mario Lanza Forum

Subject: Re: South Pacific

[Lou]

If by Glenn Close's "(other) light" Mike is referring to her singing
ability, she didn't exactly hide it under a bushel basket. As Derek
notes, she is an experienced Broadway musical performer. In fact,
before South Pacific, she won a Tony for playing the role of Norma
Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Weber's production of Sunset Boulevard,
reportedly one of the most lavish musicals on Broadway. ALW considers
Desmond the most bravura role he has ever written, and I wouldn't be
surprised if it was one of her songs that Mike heard Close sing on TV.

Derek, here's a link to Ezio Pinza singing Some Enchanted Evening in a
TB special in 1954, three years before he died:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1qpQb11YWc&feature=related
He doesn't look fat here either. Incidentally the clip shows evidence
that "his waistband stops just below his armpits", a sartorial
liability noted elsewhere by a non-fan.

[Mike McAdam]

Hi Lou: I believe it was a number from Sunset Boulevard that Ms Close
performed on that TV spot I alluded to.
M.