Love and War Take on New Meaning in OgunquitÂ's SOUTH PACIFIC

Based on the Lincoln Center Theater Production; music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan; adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener; direction reproduced by Shaun Kerrison; musical staging reproduced by Victor Wisehart; music director, Ken Clifton; original sets by Michael Yeargan; costumes by Catherine Zuber; lighting design by Richard Latta; sound design by Jeremy Oleksa; hair and makeup by Leah Munsey-Konops; production stage manager, Tracey Woolley; costume coordination by Steven Weldon; technical direction by Geof Dolan

Cast:

Ensign Nellie Forbush, Jennie Sophia; Emile de Becque, Branch Fields; Ngana, his daughter, Jasmine Nicole Reyes; Jerome, his son, Steven Sabastian Reyes Jr.; Henry, Gregory Williams; Bloody Mary, Christine Toy Johnson; Liat, her daughter, Hsin-Yu Liao; Bloody Mary’s Assistants, Colby Kingston, Yamilah Saravong; Luther Billis, Ben Crawford; Stewpot, Joe Coots; Professor, Anthony Christian Daniel; Lt. Joseph Cable, Christopher Johnstone; Capt. George Brackett, John Bolger; Cmdr. William Harbison, Robert Ierardi; Lt. Buzz Adams, Dakota Cox; Yeoman Herber Quale, Andrew Mauney; Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey, Kirk Simpson; Morton Wise, Dakota Cox; Johnny Noone, James Erickson; Tom O’Brien, Jay Frisby; James Hayes, Gregory Williams; Kenneth Johnson, Ariel Padilla; Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas Hassinger, Ben Mayne; Lt. Eustis Carmichael, Matt Patrick; Lt. Genevieve Marshall, Alejandra Lopez; Ensign Dinah Murphy, Laura Pavles; Ensign Connie Walewska, Samantha Berman; Ensign Sue Yaeger, Kristen Kelleher; Ensign Cora MacRae, Jessica Naimy

Performances:

Now through July 15; Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Main Street, Ogunquit, Maine; tickets priced from $39-$74; available by calling the Box Office at 207-646-5511 or online at www.orgunquitplayhouse.org

Ogunquit Playhouse on scenic Route 1 in Southern Maine has done with the 2008 Lincoln Center Theater revival of South Pacific what the second national tour that limped through Boston last season did not: captured the epic sweep and desperate romance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein classic and made the swelling tide of tortuously conflicted emotions pulsate and soar. This gorgeous and powerful production ends July 15, so do not hesitate to drive the 70 miles up the coast from Boston to experience this truly grand musical masterpiece.

Set against the backdrop of World War II at a time when the Japanese were pummeling American troops from their strongholds on numerous islands, South Pacific resonates with the immediacy of life or death situations. Sailors ache to escape their duties for a while on the exotic island of Bali Ha'i while couples fall in love instantly, clinging to what's warm and beautiful in an ugly and chaotic world. Troops busy themselves energetically with any number of distractions, from establishing ingenious "businesses" to putting on raucous shows to decorating little corners of their universe in ways that remind them of home. All of this urgency and desperation courses through Ogunquit’s South Pacific. The constant threat of danger lurks in the background and electrifies every performance. Even the boredom of being stationed on an island that serves as a hospital and supply depot is infused with the tension of guarded expectation.

Jan Nargi is owner and creative director of JMN Publications, a marketing and public relations firm based in Boston, Mass. She provides consultation, communications, and writing services to clients in the health care, entertainment, financial, retail, manufacturing, non-profit, and sports industries. As a freelance writer, Jan has had hundreds of articles published in business and high-tech magazines. Theatrically, she has reviewed, written, directed, acted, produced, sung, danced, managed publicity, pounded nails, and designed lighting and sets. Jan has even acted in the occasional B-movie, playing a zombie, a psycho shrink, and a clueless news reporter. You may visit her on the web at www.jmnpublications.com.

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