South Pacific
By Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Season 28 May-12 June 1999
Venue Belconnen Theatre
TheStory
Some theatre companies open their production of South Pacific with the block-busting number Bloody Mary. PhoenixPLAYERS chose to open the show as it was written, with the children who represent the union of races and cultures - which is what South Pacific is all about.
The idyllic setting of the islands and the beauty and simplicity of the people is used as the setting to relate a story about the invasion of traditional values by modernity, commercialism and racism.
The action of the play takes place on two small adjacent islands in the South Pacific during World War II. It involves sailors, marines and nurses of the US forces and the natives of the islands.
ProductionTeam
| Director | Roy Scamp |
| Assistant Director | Ian Davenport |
| Musical Directors | Jenni Mersiades, Sally McCrae |
| Choreographers | Amanda Clarke, Jenni Hill |
| Production Manager | Bob Morris |
| Stage Manager | Santo Guiliano |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Alex Hildyard |
| Set Design | James Stone, Petra Webb |
| Costume Design | Fiona Trevethan |
| Lighting Design | John Kelly, Travis Harpley |
| Sound Design | Steve Herczeg, Delux |
| Props | Alex Hildyard |
| Crew | Alex Hildyard, Daniel Widdowson, Matthew Butters, Kieren Phillips, Joel Dee, Claire Martin, John Kelly and Myles Leon |
Cast
| Nellie Forbush | Sue Lake-Harris |
| Emile De Becque | Robert Grice |
| Lt Joe Cable | Sean Ladlow |
| Luther Billis | Frank Farrell |
| Bloody Mary | Katrina Chagall |
| Liat | Melissa Franks |
| Captain Brackett | Peter Benisch |
| William Harbinson | John Beard |
| Ngana | Rebecca Franks, Anna Johnstone |
| Jerome | Rory Linehan, Johnny Morris |
| Female Chorus | |
| Bessie Noonan | Tempe Archer |
| Sue Jaeger | Lindy Bancroft |
| Genevieve Marshall | Anne Beard |
| Janet McGregor | Ann Blyth |
| Lisa Manelli | Margaret Franks |
| Pamela Whitmore | Jackie Hudson |
| Dinah Murphy | Jayne McLaren |
| Connie Walewska | Melissa Roberts |
| Betty Pitt | Lisa Snushall |
| Male Chorus | |
| 'Stewpot' Watts | Daniel Clode |
| Victor Jordan | Andrew Clucas |
| Kenneth Johnson | Gary Collinson |
| Hamilton Steeves | Matthew Ding |
| Herbert Quale | Rodwell Faulkner |
| Buzz Adams | Luke Folkard |
| Bob McCaffery | Steve Herczeg |
| Richard West | Bill Kolentsis |
| Thomas Hossinger | Andrew Linacre |
| L'il Abner | Arthur McGregor |
| Tom O'Brien | Bob Morris |
| 'Professor' | Richard Niven |
| Sven Larsen/Marcel | Kevin Playford |
| Henri | Roy Scamp |
TheMemories
In what was meant to be an ensemble scene, Peter Benisch (Captain Brackett) was supposed to deliver the line:
"We can't find a native to milk a cow or pick a coconut"
Most of the time, Peter delivered this line with great conviction to Sean (Joe Cable) and Katrina (Bloody Mary). However, one night Peter experienced one of those awkward moments that hit all performers occasionally. In that moment, the line that came out was:
"We can't find a cow to pick a coconut"
Sean did a marvellous job keeping in character (he didn't even flinch) but director Roy Scamp had to dash into the wings to the change rooms, covering his mouth with his hand in a futile attempt to muffle his laughter.
- Rodwell Faulkner