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November 3, 2011"The Zeitgeist Chronicles" (New Orleans)
November 7, 2011
It has been 61 years since the Broadway Production of “South Pacific” made its first U.S. tour.
At that time, the generation that had just lived through World War II watched the performance with a sense of recent nostalgia, recalling a historic period of their lives and how war threw them into environments where they were forced to deal with different cultures and attitudes that prompted life-changing experiences.
As a member of the current cast on tour with “South Pacific,” 26-year-old actor Christian Marriner said that just as the characters in the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, based on James Mitchner’s “Tales of the South Pacific,” had to deal with their life-changing stories, his generation of actors are gaining a learning experience living the personalities of their characters and understanding what those characters represent.
Originally from Laguna Beach, Calif., Marriner is a graduate of The New School in New York, where he earned a bachelor of fine arts in musical theater.
His professional credits to date include performing in “The Rink,” “Miss Saigon” and “Damn Yankees.”
Now, playing the part of crusty on the outside but soft on the inside Luther Billis, Marriner said he has gained an appreciation of not only that complex character, but of those who look back on the classic production of “South Pacific” and recall what carried them through their own stages of life.
“Everybody seems to enjoy it, younger people and older people,” Marriner said.
Recognizing the stage and screen stars such as Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Garnor and Ray Walston (the original Luther Billis), that made this musical a classic, Marriner said actors with the most recent traveling troupe recognize the examples they have to follow, but also bring their own interpretation to each character to help update the tone of “South Pacific’s” storyline. “I can’t compare myself to them,” Marriner said. “I do strive to do the role the service it deserves.”
With a different cast and multiple generations removed from the time in which Mitchner’s story was set, the modern cast remains true to the basic theme, but draws its own interpretations to keep those roles it portrays current.
“There is a darker side to Billis,” Marriner said regarding his bringing to life the sea bee who always had an angle to get ahead, fell for a girl outside of his league, and knew the challenges of being in a world thousands of miles away from home.
“Billis is a little bit more crude. He is a little bit more real. He is more modern. The jokes are still the same, but there is a side to Billis you don’t normally see,” Marriner said.
Set in the arena of World War II, “South Pacific” is a story about young people growing up in an environment that they would never have expected.
The musical takes on such themes as racial prejudice and forbidden love, while mixing multiple story lines with drama and comedy.
“I think a lot of guys that are older look back at [“South Pacific”] as retelling their story,” Marriner said.
“They were guys my age during that war. But I’m kind of living in the moment, so the character is very real because I am living the experience of being 26 and saying, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ I’m not off at war, but I’m away from home and having that longing for home that they experienced. And also having a goal of doing good for others. That’s my take on the character.”
Marriner said this production of “South Pacific” is both entertaining and offers the audience an underlying lesson about life.
He said playing Luther Billis has become a learning experience for him in every city he is presented, because of the way people respond.
As for what he personally hopes to gain while performing in New Orleans, Marriner said he was looking forward to experiencing “really good food and some really good jazz.”
“South Pacific” is at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans Nov. 29, Dec. 4.
‘South Pacific’
Where: Mahalia Jackson Theater of Performing Arts
When: Nov. 29 through Dec. 4
Cost: $32 to $57 depending on seating
For More Info: (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com or mahaliajacksontheater.com
Luther Billis (Christian Marriner) shakes his grass skirt by performing before fellow sea bees during one scene of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.”
