"South Pacific"

Although it is generally accepted that it is a hard job to make a success of a modern musical play on the amateur stage, most of the thousands who attended the Gisborne Operatic Society's "South Pacific" during its eleven-performance run in the Opera House came away well satisfied with what they had seen and heard. Bob Moles as Emile de Becque earned every-body's admiration for a part which was thoroughly workmanlike and convincing, and a steadfast prop on which the less-experienced players were able to lean with confidence. As Nellie Forbush, the little Scots lass, Marion Goodwin surprised and delighted with an interpretation of the little-nurse from Little Rock which rang a true bell, and it didn't matter that the accent came more from Fife than the States. At least it wasn't dinkum Kiwi, which some of the male characters couldn't change.

One of the stars of the show was Leaone Small as Bloody Mary. She gave the part the richness it deserved. As her daughter Liat, Margaret White-head was most effective, a silent siren with beckoning hands.

The full cast on stage for the curtain calls

Romantic leads, Ensign Nellie, Forbush and Emile de Becque

Native girl, Regency Blair

Ian Story revealed a charming singing voice in his numbers. The comedy star of the show was unquestionably Peter Plummer as Luther Billis. Although much of the comedy, in the hands of more inexperienced members of the cast, came close to descending to amateur slapstick, Plummer and his able offsider Bill Wilkie as Stewpot, turned in first-class performances and often had their audiences in hysterics. The difficult production job, with a majority of the cast making their first stage appearances, was capably carried out by Jack Roderick in his first attempt at musical comedy.

About 10,000 people saw the show, approximately the same figure as for last year's "Showboat".