Lakeport >> “Opening night almost is here. I am so excited I can hardly stand it,” said Bobby Alexander from his perch on a bright red bench. “It has taken us four months and a lot of hard work, but this sailor is ready.”
South Pacific opens at the Little Theatre of the Lake County Fairgrounds at 7 p.m. tonight and will run through March 20, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
“Bobby is a first time performer, but he is totally ready. He didn’t know he could dance,” said director Suna Flores, “but he sure can. He’s outstanding. All he needs now is an audience, and I sure don’t think that is going to be a problem.”
But Lake County Theatre Company’s decision to produce South Pacific was not an easy one.
“A lot of people told me South Pacific was their favorite,” said producer Sue Garrett, “but LCTC never produced it. We just asked ourselves ‘why?’”
The answer was easy. South Pacific is an icon in the musical theater world.
“It requires a huge cast, multiple sets and professional level singing. We wanted to make sure that we could do this show justice. This show has been a challenge, to be sure, but we think we have done that,” Garrett said. “We are proud of this production.”
Rogers and Hammerstein would be pleased by this dedication and enthusiasm.
“They had to fight to get this show produced, back in the day, as well,” Flores said. “There were all kinds of arguments about the story line. Love on an island between different cultures, in the middle of a war… and it is a comedy? This show was not approved of in many circles. But the story finally came to life as written, and now it is our turn to bring South Pacific to life in Lake County. We are completely ready to do that.”
Tickets are on sale at The Game Hub, 9300 Highway 53, unit 53 (across from Tower Mart) in Lower Lake, (707) 994-9909 and Soap Shack Baby, 105 N Main St. in Lakeport or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Cost of tickets is $15 for general seating, $20 for reserved, $2 more at the door. For more information feel free to call 350-2520.
The Lake County Fairgrounds are located at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.
