THERE are sure to be some enchanted evenings in Rhyl next month when the classic musical South Pacific comes to the Pavilion Theatre. A breathtaking Broadway musical considered by many to be one of the greatest in history, the show is based on two short stories by James A Michener from his book, Tales of the South Pacific. Winner of nine Tony awards, including Best Musical, and the Pulitzer Prize, South Pacific is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most celebrated musical masterpiece and is revived in a brand new production for a nationwide tour with a star-studded cast. Helena Blackman, runner-up in BBC1’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, plays Nellie Forbush, a naive Navy nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas, who falls in love with middle-aged French plantation owner, Emile de Becque, during her wartime posting to a Pacific island. However, she soon discovers secrets in his past that she finds difficult to come to terms with. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Joe Cable is caught in a similar dilemma as he grows increasingly fond of Liat, daughter of the Asian peddler Bloody Mary. Only time will tell how these two enchantingly heartfelt love stories unfold. First staged in 1948, the issue of racial prejudice is sensitively and candidly explored. With a score as breathtaking as its tropical setting, this sumptuous production features a host of classic songs including Some Enchanted Evening, Younger Than Springtime, There is Nothing Like a Dame, Bali Ha’i and Happy Talk. Dave Willetts has previously headlined Seven Brides for Seven Brothers both on tour and at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End for UK Productions as well as the recent tour of 42nd Street. Helena Blackman will tour for the first time in South Pacific. The original London West End production ran from 1951 to 1953 at the Drury Lane Theatre and the current tour started at Blackpool Grand Theatre on August 28, 2007. The tour is expected to finish at the Cardiff New Theatre this July. South Pacific will be showing at the Pavilion Theatre Rhyl between May 26 and May 31. Tickets from the box office on 01745 330 000. zz110408pacific | 
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