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Notes and Research on South Pacific
Joan Ellison as Nellie - "Honey Bun"
At the Performing Arts Center - Tri-C East
October 15- November 6, 2002
Directed by Fred Sternfeld
"South Pacific makes ‘some enchanted evening'"
"Once again, director Fred Sternfeld has gathered an awesome cast of 50 actors... and melded them into a cohesive ensemble in a thoroughly enjoyable production that exudes high quality throughout. "--Fran Heller - The Cleveland Jewish News
Strong performances revive 'South Pacific'
“... you'll never see a liveSouth Pacific of this quality again..”
“... handsome enough to be a Broadway revival..”
"... For a more authentic time-travel experience, you can go to director Fred Sternfeld's massive Jewish Community Center production of "South Pacific." It's like a slow boat to 1949, where the choruses are huge, the orchestra is brassy, and the heart-on-your-sleeve moral is unabashedly obvious." -- Linda Eisenstein - The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Sternfeld's staging magic and the buoyantly natural choreography of Martin Cespedes makes this South Pacific a worthwhile destination." --Christine Howey, The Cleveland Scene --
"The ... cast is anchored by Tom Fulton's layered portrayal of Emile deBecque, the middle-aged French planter who falls for cute-as-a-button Arkansas nurse Nellie Forbush. Besides a robust baritone that nails "Some Enchanted Evening" and "This Nearly Was Mine," Fulton gives his character subtlety and range. Follow his despairing eyes at the Act I curtain as he watches all his hopes and dreams drive away from him in Nellie's invisible Jeep - it's a master class in acting."
--Linda Eisenstein - The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Tom Fulton invests de Becque with a world-weary but charming sophistication as he woos naive Nellie from Arkansas, magnificently employing his hearty baritone on the love-struck "Some Enchanted Evening" and later in quiet despair with "This Nearly Was Mine." -- Christine Howey, The Cleveland Scene
... Fulton 's love jones is bubbling over, and his amour is so convincing that he makes their relationship work." -- Christine Howey, The Cleveland Scene
"Tom Fulton is excellent as Emile. He creates a clear physical and vocal character. His rendition of “This Nearly Was Mine” was wonderful."
- Roy Berko - The Times Newspapers
"As Emile de Becque, Tom Fulton's French accent is strong enough to be credible without being pretentious. Fulton is a fine actor who makes his love for Nellie entirely believable and charming... he acquits himself well throughout in a demanding operatic role originally played by the great basso opera star Ezio Pinza.
Joan Ellison is full of sugar and sass as Ensign Nellie Forbush. The actress reveals a pleasing singing voice in “A Cockeyed Optimist” and “I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” which she sings in tandem with the female chorus, who do some nifty moves with towels. There's even a shower with real running water!
Fulton and Ellison make the relationship between the suave, passionate, worldly older man and the naïve, unworldly, younger woman utterly ingenuous and real."
-- Fran Heller - The Cleveland Jewish News
"Joan Ellison's (as Nellie) clear voice and glowing looks make Nellie more small-town beauty queen than clowning hick. She's sympathetic even as she struggles with her racism." - Linda Eisenstein - The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"...Joan Ellison handles Nellie's singing duties superbly..."
- Christine Howey - The Cleveland Scene
"Joan Ellison delivers a sensitive, bravura performance - a triple threat of effortless dancing, remarkable singing and truthful acting. Her Nellie is playful, optimistic and at the same time, when the tides turn on her, she is deeply moving as we watch her struggle with her own bigotry. When she cries out to Emile at the end of the play "Don't die..Emile!" ones heart breaks... She's been an total delight to share the stage with..." -- musings by her co-star, Tom Fulton...
