‘South Pacific’ Returns to Toronto

“South Pacific” continues to fascinate audiences with its soaring melodies, war time love stories, and exotic island setting.

Carmen Cusack as Ensign Nellie Forbush (centre) and the nurses in 'South Pacific.' Peter Coombs

TORONTO—More than six decades after its Broadway debut, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit 1949 musical “South Pacific” continues to fascinate audiences with its soaring melodies, war time love stories, and exotic island setting.

Having wrapped up performances in Cleveland, the Lincoln Center production—winner of seven Tony Awards—opened on Tuesday at the Toronto Centre for the Arts on the last stop of its North American tour.

The musical returns to the city by popular demand following a successful run here last summer.

“What makes it so good is the combination of the production and the performers,” says Aubrey Dan, founder and president of Dancap Productions Inc, which brought the musical to Toronto.

Director Bartlett Sher re-examined the musical and gave it authenticity, says Dan, noting that the production is particularly well-timed.

“The U.S. has a Hawaiian-born president of dark colour skin, of mixed marriage and they’re in the middle of a war. How much more relevant from a timing perspective could this be?”