Televised concert performances of Broadway musicals have become something of a modern fixture in our lives—usually right around the time of your local PBS station's pledge drive. Filmed at Carnegie Hall in June 2005, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific is one of the undisputed classics of the genre, presented here note-for-note in the original lush orchestrations of Robert Russell Bennett in Dolby Digital surround with a cast from the current crop of Broadway stars. The drawbacks here are probably a matter of personal taste, but in my opinion nothing is more annoying than watching a bunch of “stars” sight-reading a show, score in hand, and mugging to the audience rather than acting in character. Sadly, Reba McEntire is one of the worst offenders: every line with the slightest suggestion of humor is played to the audience with a “wink wink, nudge nudge,” delivered in a phony accent that sounds as if it hails from Dogpatch rather than Little Rock—in South Pacific, Southern nurse Nellie Forbush may feel like a hick in French plantation owner Emile's presence, but she isn't a hillbilly (McEntire redeems herself somewhat in the songs, where much of the cornpone disappears). Alec Baldwin is miscast in the character role of Luther Billis, and apparently doesn't know the script well enough to improvise when he loses his place at one point. Brian Stokes Mitchell on the other hand gives a fine performance as Emile, while Lillias White gets extra kudos for her excellent portrayal of Bloody Mary—she's the one performer who has the music memorized. Still, given the popularity factor, consider this a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (J. Holland)
South Pacific: In Concert from Carnegie Hall
(2006) 172 min. DVD: $19.99. Rhino Entertainment. (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 21, Issue 5
South Pacific: In Concert from Carnegie Hall
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