South pacific
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30 | November 21, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News The critical list: more hot tickets Musical theatre Follow us on Twitter @CamWhatsOn THE am-dram Cambridge Operatic Society (CaOS) is gearing up to perform Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s (they of Oklahoma and The Sound of Music), South Pacific at the Arts Theatre. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Tales of the South Pacific, by James A. Michener, the show is chock-a-block full of hits and romance. We had a brief chat with professional direc- tor Chris Cuming: Tell us about the show – what should people expect? It’s based on a collection of stories about people on the island of South Pacific during the Second World War. It’s based around a love story, but there are all these underlying stories about race. There are a lot of political undertones, and when it came out it was a huge thing, a big moment for everyone. A lot of big Broadway American shows are based on the American dream, and this actually dealt 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, Nothing Like A Dame, Gotta Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair, it’s a real Broadway classic show 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 wonderful sense of optimism and hope. And it’s a good laugh too. People will have a really enjoyable night and hear the classics they’ve grown up with. But also, see and listen to a true, human story where everyone can relate to a charac- ter, or to a thought, whether we’ve said it out loud or not. We’ve all experienced some of what these characters are going through and the moral dilemmas they’re put in. Have you put much of a twist on the original? For me what’s important about it is staying true to the real story. Sometimes on musi- cals people can get car- ried away with the showmanship and the pizazz fac- tor, but for me that’s there in the music; it’s about finding the beauty of the story. It’s not just a musical for us; we’re playing it like 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 the musical theatre lovers out there, if you love a really good hearty story, then this is a show to come along to. There are some huge mo- ments. We’ve got 28 in the orchestra, which is big for any show, let alone a local com- pany, so the sound is going to be absolutely extraordinary. What else should we know? For me it’s been great to come and see and enjoy the talent that Cambridge has got. That’s what’s joyous about these shows. What’s your last word on the matter? It might be the winter but come and see this summer show in the South Pacific! We might just do that. n For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see South Pacific on opening night (Tuesday, November 26 at 2.30pm) simply email your name, address and daytime phone number to competitions@ cambridge-news.co.uk to arrive no later than Friday, November 22 at 3pm. Please put “South Pacific competition” in the subject box. South Pacific, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Tuesday, November 26-Saturday, November 30 at 7.45pm. Tickets £15-£25 from (01223) 503333 / cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online. co.uk South Pacific
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South Pacific - Cambridge Arts Theatre
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30 | November 21, 2013 | cambridge-news.co.uk | Cambridge News
The critical list: more hot ticketsMusical theatre
Follow us on Twitter@CamWhatsOn
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 [email protected] 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
