The temperature certainly feels like the South Pacific as the Tony and Pulitzer Prize award-winning musical launches at Opera House Manchester this evening. But will this classic tale, first performed on Broadway more than 70 years ago, still enchant the audience?
Rodgers and Hammerstein's epic love story, adapted from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel: Tales of The South Pacific, is set on a US occupied Polynesian island during WW2.
The narrative centres on American nurse Nellie Forbush, who falls in love with expatriate French plantation owner Emile De Becque, but is shocked to discover he has two mixed-race children from his deceased Polynesian wife.
Gina Beck makes a delightfully naive and enthusiastic Nellie, while Julian Ovenden, of Bridgerton and Downton Abbey Fame, is very convincing as her lover, the liberal, cultured Emile.
Their individual performances of A Cockeyed Optimist and Some Enchanted Evening set a dreamy tone, belying the much darker themes of war and racism.
Joanna Ampil excels in the part of the feisty Bloody Mary, dramatically defying the stereotype of a subservient local woman as she puts the US Navy men in their place. Seemingly determined to marry off her daughter Liat to a white man of good standing, US Marine Lieutenant Joseph Cable, played by Rob Houchen, presents her with the perfect opportunity.
It hits hard when the up to then endearing Nellie reacts with horror at widower Emile having had children with a native woman and just stops short of using a racial slur.
"It's born in me", she claims of her racism, an assertion eloquently disputed in Emile and Joseph's song: 'You've Got To Be Carefully Taught', the tune with the best lyrics of the lot and just as relevant today as ever.
Highlights of the show are the soaring vocals - Gina Beck's in particular, and the ensemble navy dance routines, bursting with vigour and virility.
Richard Rodger's score is both tender and rousing, featuring songs that everyone seems to at least know of, whether they've ever seen South Pacific or not: I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Happy Talk, There is Nothin' Like A Dame and Honey Bun, the latter performed with aplomb by Dougie McMeekin as hapless navy ensign Luther Billis.
If you've seen the musical, or film, before then you will know what you are going for - those classic tunes and that fabulous dancing, and will surely love the show.
If you haven't, you may find the story a little lacking in substance, the promising themes somewhat under-explored.
Whichever category you fall into though, the sheer joy of everything about this production, despite its underlying darker themes, is hard to resist.
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