30 | November 21, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News

The critical list: more hot ticketsMusical theatre

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The am-dram Cambridge Operatic Society(CaOS) is gearing up to perform RichardRogers and Oscar hammerstein II’s (they ofOklahoma and The Sound of Music), SouthPacific at the Arts Theatre.Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winningnovel, Tales of the South Pacific, by James A.Michener, the show is chock-a-block full ofhits and romance.We had a brief chat with professional direc-tor Chris Cuming:Tell us about the show – what should peopleexpect?It’s based on a collection of stories aboutpeople on the island of South Pacific duringthe Second World War. It’s based around alove story, but there are all these underlyingstories about race. There are a lot of politicalundertones, and when it came out it was ahuge thing, a big moment for everyone. A lotof big Broadway American shows are basedon the American dream, and this actuallydealt with some difficult topics.You make it sound quite heavy going. . .It’s also a show where every song is a hit!You’ve got Some Enchanted Evening, NothingLike A Dame, Gotta Wash That Man RightOutta My Hair, it’s a real Broadway classicshow but also with a really genuine story.That’s what we’ve really strived to do in re-hearsals, is to get this human story across.So why should people come along?It’s a warming piece that has a wonderfulsense of optimism and hope. And it’s a goodlaugh too. People will have a really enjoyable

night and hear the classics they’ve grown upwith. But also, see and listen to a true, humanstory where everyone can relate to a charac-ter, or to a thought, whether we’ve said it outloud or not. We’ve all experienced some ofwhat these characters are going through andthe moral dilemmas they’re put in.Have you put much of a twist on theoriginal?For me what’simportantabout itis stayingtrue to thereal story.Sometimeson musi-cals peoplecan get car-ried away withthe showmanshipand the pizazz fac-tor, but for me that’sthere in the music; it’sabout finding the beautyof the story. It’s not just amusical for us; we’re playing itlike a play.It’s ok if you’re not too fussed

by musicals in general then?It’s a show for everyone. It’s not just for themusical theatre lovers out there, if you lovea really good hearty story, then this is a showto come along to. There are some huge mo-ments. We’ve got 28 in the orchestra, whichis big for any show, let alone a local com-pany, so the sound is going to be absolutelyextraordinary.What else should we know?For me it’s been great to come and see andenjoy the talent that Cambridge has got.T h a t ’ s what’s joyous about theseshows.

What’s your last word onthe matter?It might be the winter

but come and see thissummer show in theSouth Pacific!We might just dothat.n For a chance towin a pair of ticketsto see South Pacificon opening night(Tuesday,November 26 at

2.30pm) simply emailyour name, address and daytime

phone number to competitions@cambridge-news.co.uk to arriveno later than Friday, November 22at 3pm. Please put “South Pacificcompetition” in the subject box.

� South Pacific, Cambridge Arts Theatre,Tuesday, November 26-Saturday, November 30 at7.45pm. Tickets £15-£25 from (01223) 503333/ cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk

SouthPacific