Posted 2007-08-05 20:52:46: Amazon.com Editoral Review: The only major Rodgers and Hammerstein show not to have had a major Broadway revival, South Pacific receives its first complete recording, capturing 107 minutes of classic songs as well as reprises and underscored dialogue. Given the thankless task of succeeding Mary Martin of the original Broadway cast is the wonderful Paige O'Hara (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, John McGlinn's Show Boat), full of sass and spunk as Nellie Forbush. Although this Emile De Becque, Justino Diaz, isn't actually a Frenchman (but hey, neither was Ezio Pinza), his accent is only a faint distraction from his rich voice. Filling out the cast are tenor Sean McDermott as Lt. Joe Cable and Pat Suzuki (Flower Drum Song) as Bloody Mary. It's a very good recording, and an easy choice for anyone who wants the complete score. The only drawback is that, unlike other JAY Masterworks Editions, this one doesn't include extra songs, such as "My Girl Back Home," a song cut from the original production but restored for the 1958 film. --David Horiuchi
