When Lt. Joseph Cable (Mike Schwitter) serenades the beautiful Polynesian woman, Liat (Áine Dorman), with “Younger Than Springtime“ in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, it’s hard not to get emotional. Schwitter, whose Broadway credits include The Great Gatsby and Pippin, delivers the beloved ballad with warmth and soaring vocals that instantly win over the audience and move us to tears.
Now on stage at the historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope through July 26, this superb production has everything a great musical should: unforgettable songs, genuine humor, polished performances, top-notch direction, and Broadway-quality production values.
Nearly 80 years after its Broadway debut, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s masterpiece remains as moving as ever. With its lush score, compelling love stories, and groundbreaking themes of prejudice and acceptance, South Pacific is not only timeless — it’s one of the highlights of the summer theater season.
Premiering on Broadway in 1949, the musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 10 Tony Awards, cementing its place as one of America’s greatest musicals.
With this production, the Bucks County Playhouse continues its tradition of attracting exceptional creative talent to the historic stage where Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, and Jessica Walter launched their careers.
Set on a remote island in the South Pacific during World War II, the musical weaves together romance, sacrifice, and cultural conflict, featuring classics including “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “Younger Than Springtime,” and “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame.”
“As disappointed as Oscar would be about the seemingly everlasting timeliness of South Pacific, he would undoubtedly be heartened by the strength of feeling so many people have for the show nearly 80 years after it first opened on Broadway,” said Will Hammerstein, grandson of Oscar Hammerstein II.
Ryan Silverman (Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, and Cry-Baby) brings charisma and depth to French plantation owner Emile de Becque, while Alexandra Socha (Wicked, Spring Awakening, and Head Over Heels) is delightful as the spirited Navy nurse Nellie Forbush. Their chemistry anchors the production beautifully.
Schwitter is equally outstanding as Lt. Cable, and Dorman gives Liat a quiet grace that makes their romance especially touching.
Adding irresistible charm are eight-year-old Elle Kim as Ngana, and Markos Vazques-Bostock as her older brother, Jerome. The young performers are poised, engaging, and leave a lasting impression during their professional debuts.
The supporting cast is equally strong, including Ann Sanders as Bloody Mary, David Hess as Captain Brackett, and Taylor Crousore as the comic Luther Billis.
The production is expertly directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award nominee Denis Jones, who returns to Bucks County Playhouse after last season’s acclaimed She Loves Me.
The musical also has deep Bucks County roots. Oscar Hammerstein II wrote much of South Pacific while living in nearby Doylestown, and the show is based on Tales of the South Pacific by Pulitzer Prize-winning author James A. Michener, another celebrated Bucks County native.
The Playhouse itself remains one of the region’s cultural treasures. Since re-opening in 2012, it has welcomed more than 80,000 patrons annually while continuing to attract Broadway-caliber productions and performers.
Under the leadership of Tony Award-winning producers Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman, and Josh Fiedler, the theater has enjoyed record-breaking seasons, with recent hits including Elf: The Musical, Grease!, Anastasia, and The Rocky Horror Show.
For More Information
South Pacific runs through July 26 at Bucks County Playhouse, 40 Main Street, New Hope. Tickets start at $44. An ASL-interpreted performance will be held Sunday, July 12, at 1:30 p.m.
Up next is Rent (Aug. 13-Sept. 13), followed by Rock of Ages and Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn.