The Sun City Theatre Company proudly presents “South Pacific,” coming to the Drendel Ballroom for performances November 15-18. The musical, scored by iconic singer/songwriter duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, is based on a collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning short stories by author James Michener. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1949, and has remained a beloved musical ever since, followed by a Hollywood release film in 1958 and many of the songs, such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There is Nothing Like a Dame,” and “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outa My Hair” earning their place as popular standards still played today.
The story is set in World War II and follows the story of Nellie Forbush, an American nurse stationed on a South Pacific island. She falls in love with a plantation owner on the island, but struggles to accept his mixed-race children. Meanwhile, another romance blooms between a U.S. lieutenant and a young Tonkinese woman.
Cast members rehearsing a scene from South Pacific for the Theatre Companies upcoming performance. (Photos by Tony Pratt/Sun Day)
“It revolves around two love stories,” explains Sun City resident Dick Storer, co-producer of the production. “One works out and one doesn’t. It also deals with some bigotry,” he continues. “There’s a song called ‘You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,’ and it’s a powerful song.”
Storer says the first production he was ever in at Sun City was “South Pacific,” when it was performed back in 2007. “It’s nice to revisit it,” he says. “The stage play is somewhat different now; they’ve reworked and updated it a bit.”
Updates aside, what remains is the same joyful, beautiful, colorful show that co-producer Judy Stage remembers from her childhood.
“I was a big Broadway nut,” she said. “I listened to this album all the time! Even some of the tunes that are not so familiar like ‘Cockeyed Optimist,’ I still even knew those!”
As an ensemble singer, Stage is enjoying the chance to perform these well-loved melodies on stage. She says the work that the crew puts into costumes and scenery make this show not only beautiful to listen to, but to watch.
“There will be nurse costumes, lots of capris, shorts, and flowery tops,” she says. “The men have uniforms and sailor outfits. And the Woodchucks are making beautiful palm trees in the woodshop. Jim Rice, he does all the drawings for our set changes. They’re beautiful.”
Stage says that seeing the performance only represents a fraction of the work involved in putting on a show.
“It takes about 100 people,” she said. “You don’t realize it until you’re in it. You have to get the rights, the costumes, the tickets have to be printed…but the community always supports it. We always have enough for ‘one more show.’”
Stage says participating in productions at Sun City gives her a new appreciation as an audience member. “I know [when I’m watching a stage production] that they did just as much work. They memorized lines, learned the songs, did the costumes and the sets,” she said.
Storer plays the character of Seabee Luther Billis, who has a notable moment in the second act as Nellie Forbush sings “Honey Bun” pretending to be a sailor singing about “his” sweetheart during a follies show entertaining the troops. Billis gets dressed up, puts on a couple coconuts and dances around as the object of the sailor’s affection. Stage says Storer’s height of well over six feet makes him a standout for the comedic role.
“I’m more nervous if I have to get up and say something if I don’t have a prepared speech in front of me,” said Storer. “But this…I know my part and I become that person. As far as nerves, I’m lucky. I don’t get nervous.”
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” Stage says. “It’s what I wanted to do when I grew up – be a Broadway singer. Instead, I got married and had kids. Now that I’m retired I finally get to do what I wanted to do: be in all these shows.”
Performances of “South Pacific” are November 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., November 17 at 3 p.m., and November 18 at 1:30 p.m.
