Paramount’s ‘South Pacific’ stirs memories for columnist with WWII family ties
Looking through the record albums stored in a cabinet that housed my parents’ stereo system throughout my youth was like taking a quick trip to Broadway.
Virtually every popular musical ever staged and turned into popular movies was represented in this music collection, giving all of us plenty of good music and a way to keep enjoying what we had seen at the theater or on TV.
When you could stick your hand into the rows of albums and pull out “Sound of Music,” “Carousel,” “My Fair Lady,” “Annie,” “The King and I,” “Music Man,” or “Oklahoma,” you couldn’t make a bad pick.
But, of them all, I was most fond of “South Pacific,” for its songs and also the engaging performances of Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor in the movie of the same name in 1958. Brazzi was a good-looking fellow, but when he sang, the voice of Giorgio Tozzi was dubbed in.
Of course, I was about 6 years old when I first heard this record in our home. Who sang what didn’t matter. But I knew this: I liked what I was hearing. Even a kid can decipher a catchy tune.
My father served in the Pacific Theater during World War II in the Army Air Corps, so we had that connection with this entertaining Rodgers & Hammerstein musical.
For all of those reasons, the “South Pacific” production at Paramount Theatre in Aurora had been on my calendar for more than a year. I couldn’t wait to see it — and it did not disappoint last week.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, who had some major hits of his own on Broadway, has said “Some Enchanted Evening” in “South Pacific” is the greatest song ever written. I’ll leave that debate to others, but there is no denying its power in this show, no matter where it has played for decades.
Devin Archer, portraying Frenchman Emile De Becque, certainly did the song justice in Paramount’s production, delivering one of the most touching moments of the performance when De Becque and Nellie Forbush, played by the bundle of joy Allsun O’Malley, realize they are in love.
With an overlying theme about a serious topic — racial prejudices and how we often pick them up at an early age, and how they clash with our need for cultural diversity — “South Pacific” makes you ponder our past and the stubborn affliction of racism that plagues us yet today.
Still, this trip back to spend time with our servicemen and women so far from home has plenty to make you laugh — and just lose yourself in the silliness of songs like “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right of My Hair,” “Bloody Mary” and “There is Nothing Like a Dame.”
As for “Bloody Mary” being the girl they love, as the sailors’ ensemble made clear in a rousing version of the song, there was another certainty about that character in this show. Everyone had to love the portrayal of “Bloody Mary” by Cindy Chang, who was funny and energetic, but also soulful as a mother longing for her daughter to find a good man.
But the power of “South Pacific” lies in the heart-tugging, emotional love songs, particularly when Anthony Maggio, as Lt. Joseph Cable, delivers “Younger Than Springtime” to his newfound love, native girl Liat, Mary’s daughter, played by Louisa Darr.
And, my favorite in the show, Archer singing “This Nearly Was Mine,” bringing the emotions of De Becque to the forefront at the thought of losing Forbush because of her fear of what people back in her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, might think of his biracial children.
It was the type of moment in a theater that surely left many in the crowd near tears, or at least with lumps in their throat.
Throughout the show, I was certain my mother and father looked down upon my experience with wide smiles and, maybe, a few tears in their eyes.
“South Pacific” plays at the Paramount through June 14.
Deserving praise for ACEs
It’s only fitting that a large crowd of parents, school administrators, community leaders and service club members were recently on hand to honor local students who have overcome all sorts of obstacles to reach the goal of high school graduation.
The Tri-Cities Exchange Club has been honoring these types of students annually for 30 years, providing recognition, monetary rewards and sharing their stories during the Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (ACE) Awards breakfast.
I’ve written about this program often in the past, partly because I was in the Exchange Club for more than 20 years, but mostly that these are the types of students who are just far enough below the radar that no one would ever hear their stories of extraordinary accomplishments against significant odds.
One student’s counselor summed it up well when noting all of the students’ efforts and desire to succeed, with one doing so despite life-threatening health issues and missing a full year of school, saying, “It is a hopeful message for all of us.”
The students honored this year were Katelyn Kaechele and Maria Vergara Ariza of Batavia High School; Brooke Copeland and Hope Montague of Geneva High School; Jeannine Briceno and Summer Hoogeterp of Mooseheart High School; Oisin McCole and Samuel Quartuccio of St. Charles North; and Caleb DeGuzman of St. Charles East.
The challenges these students faced range from health crises with leukemia or a brain injury at birth; dealing with a tough immigration process after coming from Colombia; spending years away from their families to excel at school; and overcoming mental health issues that were holding them back.
It was the best turnout in the history of the ACE Awards, filling an event room at Riverside Banquets in Geneva.
As the club’s event program noted, it was fitting for all to congratulate these young people “on making the decision to succeed, to prepare for a bright future and to contribute to our community.”
Guiding young people
It’s pretty easy to see his volunteer work with youths paved the way for Harrison Schneider to earn the Charlemagne Award in St. Charles earlier this month.
The 84-year-old Schneider has a significant track record in helping young people, through his educator role with the East Aurora High School District and as an associate superintendent of the Kane County Regional Office of Education.
He’s been a key member of the Kiwanis Club, helping connect its members with the Court Appointed Special Advocates program and overseeing Kiwanis Key Clubs at area high schools.
He has also guided students through service projects with Salvation Army and the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
And that just scratches the surface of St. Charles’ most prominent citizen for the year.
To tarp or not to tarp
In taking the eye test, what’s worse, looking at the aging 1840s blacksmith shop on the former Mill Race Inn property in Geneva, or that same shop with a large white tarp on it?
In yet another chapter of the city and historic preservationists vs. Shodeen Development and its future plans for that property, Shodeen apparently approved of placing the huge white tarp over the structure.
So, to answer the question about looks, neither one is a good option. Some reasonable, smart people need to lock themselves in a room to resolve this ongoing debate about what happens to the blacksmith shop, already declared a historic site in Geneva, and how it could be incorporated into future plans.
This isn’t the first time Shodeen has hopped on this horse along the Fox River, having a similar debate more than 30 years ago on the west side of the river regarding the old Creamery Building that stood where the developer was planning to create The Herrington Inn.
After debates and clashes about what to do, the Creamery was included in the building plans. Cooler heads prevailed and the Herrington became a fine addition to the city.
Preservationists likely don’t care about how the tarp looks. They are more concerned about what it does to the masonry on the old building, essentially robbing it of the air they say it needs to breathe and not rapidly deteriorate.
Apparently, Shodeen feels the tarp is the best way to address the city’s demands that the company take care of the blacksmith shop on its property.
City officials don’t seem to think the tarp really does that, and have sent a letter to Shodeen saying as much.
It makes me come back to what some historic preservationists and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns suggested a long time ago — that the blacksmith shop or a portion of it could become a monument in some fashion, with flower beds around it and a plaque or story board telling of its history.
Figure out how much room such an option would take and how it would be showcased, either as a side seating area near planned housing or shops, or a dedicated portion of a plaza area — much like the Creamery is on the other side of the river.
If such an idea is a deal-killer financially for Shodeen’s plans on the site, then the city should consider cutting some sort of a deal as a make-good on a future Shodeen proposal in the city.
It's possible that by the time this column is published, the tarp question will have been answered. As of earlier this week, it had not.
• dheun@sbcglobal.net