NT South Pacific (2002) VS Barbican South Pacific (2011)

[Musicaldudepeter]

Anyone that saw both - can you share your thoughts on the 2 productions... I only saw the latter... What was Nunn's interpretation of the National's production versus Bartlett Sher's vision for the 2008 Broadway revival and its London transfer? The NT cast recording seems grittier to me, more realist, very Nunn-esque, like his Oklahoma! in 1998.

[CATSNYrevival]

I didn't see it, but I liked the way Nunn structured the show much better. I really like the show opening with "Bloody Mary" and "Nothing Like a Dame" and having "Bali-H'ai" lead into the scene between Nellie and Emile. I also really liked "My Girl Back Home" being in the second act and the inclusion of "Now is the Time."

Overall, I think Nunn's production was probably a little more of a unique "revisal" and Sher's was a pretty straight-forward revival of the original material, just with the inclusion of "My Girl Back Home" and a little nudity which was a nice little addition.

[Dubliner]

I saw both, although the production at Lincoln Center was into its second cast (some of the originals stayed on but not Keilli O'Hara and Paulo Szot).

I much preferred Lincoln Center in New York although the Nunn production had its joys too. Lincoln Center seemed to me, a production of immense taste and simplicity which allowed the show to shine. The set was mainly a simple sky blue box with a drift of sand and only one single palm tree. It really suggested an island adrift in infinity. There were more solid elements for the villa and Thanksgiving show. There was no kitsch and the Polynesians and their culture were treated with great respect and not just as exotic colour. Rodgers and Hammerstein's structure was retained opening and closing with the children on the terrace and Dites Moi. It really felt like a brand new show and not one that was sixty years old. It opened with an immensely magical coup de theatre when the thrust stage receded to reveal the orchestra. The first act closed like this also with Emile moving backwards during This Nearly was Mine.

I hated the way Trevor Nunn re-odered the songs to open with Bloody Mary destroying the symmetry of the original structure. I also hated including the ceremony of the Boar's Tooth as a kitschy ballet which seemed like something from vaudeville in its treatment of the islanders. John Napier's set would have been ok if they hadn't used some really dodgy washed out picture postcard projections. The cast however was very fine and Philip Quast was a perfect Emile. Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary and Edward Baker Duly as Cable were also magnificent.

I didn't see the LCT transfer to the Barbican and tour but I understand the magic didn't travel well.

[abitoftap]

I agree with Dubliner. We saw the Lincoln Center show a year or so in, and Nunn's version at the National.

The NT version set a completely wrong tone by starting with the comedy elements. This took away from the (undoubted) later drama and emotion.

The LC version was absolutely thrilling from the first moment of the overture. R and H got the book pretty right from the show's Broadway opening. Comments about the beauty off the orchestral texture, sound and the quality of the singing have rightly been made many times.

I didn't see the UK tour although a non musical loving friend did after having just seen Opera North's Carousel. He said it was fine, but not as thrilling (sorry!) as Carousel had been.