Overview

Synopsis

Set against the dramatic background of an idyllic South Pacific island during WWII, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific intertwines the themes of romance, duty, and prejudice to create a story that is all at once hilarious, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. Based on the anecdotes of a real-life U.S. Navy commander who was stationed on an island, the musical follows two intercultural love stories: Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with Emile, a French plantation owner on the island who has two children from his late Polynesian wife; at the same time, U.S. Lieutenant Cable falls for a beautiful island native named Liat. Both Americans find themselves struggling to reconcile their own cultural prejudices with their amorous feelings, all the while under the dark cloud of a war that is coming ever closer to their island paradise.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
James A. Michener's 1947 book, Tales of the South Pacific
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1949
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Romance, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
a south pacific island during wwii, 1940s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Child Characters

Lead Characters

South Pacific logo

Nellie Forbush

Lead, Female, Mezzo-Soprano

South Pacific

South Pacific logo

Emile de Becque

Lead, Male, Baritone

South Pacific