SOUTH PACIFIC London 2001 Alterations Quast/Baker-Duly

The 2001 Royal National Theatre revival of "South Pacific" made some significant alterations to the standard text. Instead of beginning at Emile's home, it held off on that scene and the first three songs and instead began directly on the beach, with "Bloody Mary." (This is similar to the 1958 film version's timeline.) Instead of following "You've Got to Be Taught" with "This Nearly Was Mine," "Carefully Taught" (5:38) was followed by Emile (Philip Quast) and Joe (Edward Baker-Duly) in "Now Is the Time" (7:58), a song cut from the '49 original. And "This Nearly Was Mine" (10:00) was moved to a later and new scene on Marie Louise Island. Trevor Nunn directed and presumably made the alterations, and Matthew Bourne did musical staging. Quast was Ben in the recent National Theater "Follies." Baker-Duly has been recently playing the lead in Trevor Nunn's London premiere production of "The Bridges of Madison County."

[@christopherbush9027]

I remember being very surprised that RNH Theatricals allowed these changes, but nonetheless it was an interesting take on a true classic. I’ve always been a fan of Quast’s, and was thrilled he was cast. This was interesting to finally see after twenty years of listening to the cast recording - thank you Spiderwoman!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Surprised here too, and even more surprised that they allowed it to be recorded with these major score alterations that will probably never be heard again. The R&H folk were looking for a major Broadway revival of "South Pacific," and after Nunn's acclaimed "Oklahoma!" (1998), they turned to him to try a new "South Pacific." Ultimately they waited for Lincoln Center Theater and Bartlett Sher's version in 2008.

[@christopherbush9027]

aurora spiderwoman I guess we can all be thankful, as that Lincoln Center production was a masterpiece from start to finish and one of my all time favorite nights in the theater!

[@EricMontreal22]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Right, and remember he made alterations in the text to Oklahoma! too, though nothing so obvious (I believe the new dialogue came from the original play, Green Grow the Lilacs, but have never heard confirmation.

[@EricMontreal22]

" remember being very surprised that RNH Theatricals allowed these changes, but nonetheless it was an interesting take on a true classic." Remember they had already allowed the truly hideous animated King and I (though I think Ted Chapin has since admitted that was a mistake) and of course currently have a rather controversial Oklahoma!

[@claytonsackett8237]

Oh man! What a great quality for 2001!

[@MARCMANTELL]

thank you for posting!

[@jonshear126]

Thanks so much for this. I enjoyed the production, and the Nunn/Bourne My Fair Lady, at the National. I found Baker-Duly a better Cable than the LCT guys and Bourne's musical staging more vivid than at LCT.

[@jscho8674]

I adore Phillip Quast. His Javert is my fave.

[@kennethwayne6857]

And yet Trevor Nunn was relatively quite respectful with 'Oklahoma!'

[@frontlinestage]

I was in this. Do you have the whole thing? I'd dearly love to see it....

[@joecascone2189]

Gorgeous physical production and very attractive cast. But why "fix" something that is already perfect? Trevor Nunn should know better! Bizarre. Just bizarre.

[@MrEgerman]

What bizarre choices.. they toy around with it like it needed "fixing." Someone's hubris got the best of them.

[@Ranger7Studios]

weird changes.

[@chocolatesouljah]

It's interesting the original London production of South Pacific was not critically adored. One reviewer referred to it as Soporific. And Mary Martin was in it!!! It did manage to run for just under 2 years, at I think 800 performances. So, it make sense that the Brits would have a hand in revising it. I do like this take although some of the melodic liberties taken seem forced, but it felt like a contemporary revisionist Shakespearean version. Something that makes sense in Trevor Nunn's hands. As much as I like the twists, this version seems esoteric and Bart Sher's good nature d UNrevised 2008 production was on the money.

[@EricMontreal22]

Although 800 performances in London, while not the epic hit Oklahoma! was there, (and later Sound of Music which I believe outran its Broadway version) was still very significant.

[@chocolatesouljah]

@@EricMontreal22 Yes. It was. Also The Sound of Music did outrun its' Broadway counterpart. Percentage wide Oklahoma! and South Pacific's London runs matched up with the success of their Broadway counterparts. 800 performances back then was pretty much a smash it.

[@mikesteele05]

What a huge mess!