Theater Review - "South Pacific" John W. Engeman Theater

“South Pacific”  - John W. Engeman Theater thru July 14

Reviewed by Jeb Ladouceur

When James Michener wrote ‘Tales of the South Pacific’ in 1947 it’s unlikely he ever dreamed his fictional treatise on racism would become one of the theater’s most beloved musicals. Not even the great Rogers and Hammerstein knew what magic they (along with Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza) had wrought until their 1949 audience at Broadway’s Majestic Theater roared their approval and Christened the show a smash.

Hsin-Yu Liao (Liat); Amy Jo Phillips (Bloody Mary); Peter Carrier (Lt. Joe Cable). AnnMarie Snyder PhotoStill young at 65 and perhaps more timely than ever, “South Pacific” playing at Northport’s beautiful John W. Engeman Theater thru July 14, combines entwined love stories: principally that of “Nellie Forbush” a young Arkansas nurse, and worldly-wise Frenchman “Emile deBecque” … and the doomed romance between Marine Lt. “Joe Cable” and “Liat,” a beautiful young Tonkenese woman. Michener’s story (Joshua Logan famously participated with Hammerstein on the playbook) is told largely in now-classic songs like “Bali Ha’i”, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair”, “Some Enchanted Evening”, “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy”, and a dozen other, toe-tappers including my favorite showstopper: “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame.”

South Pacific rehearsal photoProducer Richard Dolce hasn’t spared the horses in mounting this lavish production; award winning Director Igor Goldin has been given a sterling cast to work with. Indeed, Rob Gallagher (Emile) has performed in that starring role on Broadway, and Kim Carson’s (Nellie) resumé sports a long list of legitimate theaters in New York and Philadelphia. Other veteran cast notables are David McDonald (Captain Brackett), Amy Jo Phillips (an outstanding Bloody Mary), and Peter Carrier (Lt. Cable). They’re all excellent.

And the twenty-two members of the ensemble are lively and entertaining, as well. Unfortunately, with a big cast like the one that will be performing at The Engeman during the next six weeks, it’s difficult to select a standout—even choosing first among equals from such a quality company is a chore. If pressed, we might give the nod to Matt Wood playing “Luther Billis” though on a given night, the bow might go to any one of his associates.

Of course, the play essentially belongs to “Emile” and “Nellie” and were Rob Gallagher and Kim Carson the only two actors on stage throughout the entire two-hour proceedings, this “South Pacific” would still be worth every penny of the $65-per price tag.

When I first saw the set, which consists largely of several five-foot-wide rows of horizontal wood strips suspended from above, (think gigantic Venetian blinds) I wondered how the layered see-through setup could possibly work. But 20 seconds into the show the cleverness of Josh Zangen’s functional creation became obvious. Enhanced by Cory Pattak’s entirely appropriate lighting, the set is simply wonderful.

This legendary show would be an abject failure if the sound were not spot-on. Thus we are in sound designer Craig Kaufman’s debt for delivering an aural gem. Thanks to the veteran of eleven Engeman productions, the lyrical voices of Gallagher and Carson, as well as James Olmstead’s unobtrusive music, come through as if originating in the seat next to us.

And speaking of seats, if there was an empty one in Northport’s John W. Engeman theater opening night, I didn’t see it. In this neighborly community where theater-savvy folks are quick to compare notes, I wouldn’t doubt if that proved to be the case for the show’s entire run. Word gets around.

Award-winning Smithtown author Jeb Ladouceur has published seven novels. His theater reviews appear in dozens of L. I. newspapers. In Ladouceur’s next thriller, “The Dealer” due this summer, Israeli extortionists threaten to destroy Hoover Dam demolishing the Las Vegas Strip - if casino operators don’t pay millions.

Over Eat? The Post-indulgence Plan

By Kia Edwards

I’ll make a confession: I overate this week.  I went out with a friend for her birthday dinner and when I woke up the next morning, I tallied up the amount of food I ate.  My conclusion?  It was a lot….of fun.  Food wise?  That was a lot too.  What’s a health-conscious person to do after falling off the wagon?  Here are a few tips to get you back on track the safe way.

Breathe

You ate a lot of food.  Admit it, accept it and then move on in a sensible manner.  1 pound of fat contains 3,500 calories and it’s doubtful that you ate that much in one sitting.  I don’t know any person who eats healthy 100% of the time, and that’s quite fine.  When you give yourself a treat, such as a birthday dinner, take that into account when you think of your eating habits for the rest of the week. Get back to a normal eating schedule.

Leave the Scale Alone for the Day

It may sound like cheating, but the day after you go crazy at the buffet is not a day for the scale.  The number you see may very well cause considerable distress.  However, it’s not an accurate reading.  It is most likely due to water retention, which is caused by excessive salt.  Weighing yourself right after you overindulge will cause you to feel defeated and that won’t help you.  Give yourself a day or so to get back to normal, then hop on the scale for a more accurate reading. 

Don’t Overdo the Work Out

A trainer telling you not to punish yourself with exercise?  Really?  Yes, to an extent.  When you overeat, your plan may be to run off every last one of those excess calories.  It sounds like a good idea in theory, but in reality it’s not your best bet.  Overdoing it can cause you to feel burned out.  It also increases your risk of injury, which will just put you out of the game for a longer amount of time.  You will certainly have to increase your activity, but do it throughout the course of the week and you can add an extra day, if your body can handle it.  For example, if your workout routine is 30min a day, you can safely bump it to 40-45 minutes, but don’t make it 2 hours if that’s not what you’re used to.

Be Aware of What You Eat After

An occasional treat is okay- life is short after all and many of us can agree that certain unhealthy foods taste GREAT.  That being said, many people overindulge on a regular basis and this can cause some serious weight gain. After the feast, keep a mental note of what you’re eating.  You’ll have to cut back on the treats and add in more low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables and lean protein.  

We all overindulge at some point or another.  This is the weekend for BBQ’s, and I think you should enjoy it.  Following these tips will help you move on after a summer feast…or after a fun night, which may or may not have included a huge piece of chocolate cake.  

Kia Edwards is a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist who lives in New York City. She studied French and Economics at Colgate University, spent 15 years as a high-level competitive gymnast and 6 years as a gymnastics coach.  Her business, La Fortesse At Home Fitness Training, helps clients get healthy with simple at home exercises and nutrition counseling. www.LaFortesse.com 

DEC - If You Care, Leave It There

If You Care, Leave It There DEC Urges New Yorkers Not To Disturb Fawns and Other Young Wildlife

New Yorkers should keep their distance and not to disturb newborn fawns or other young wildlife as many animals are in the peak season for giving birth, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today cautioned.

It is not unusual to see a young bird crouched in the yard or a young rabbit in the flower garden, both apparently abandoned. Finding a fawn deer lying by itself is also fairly common. Many people assume that young wildlife found alone are helpless and need assistance for their survival, however, in nearly all cases this is a mistake and typically human interaction does more damage than good. Those that see a fawn or other newborn wildlife should enjoy their encounter but keep it brief, maintain some distance and do not attempt to touch the animal.

Young wildlife quickly venture into the world on shaky legs or fragile wings. While most are learning survival from one or both parents, some normally receive little or no care. Often, wild animal parents stay away from their young when people are near. For all of these young animals, the perils of survival are a natural part of life in the wild.

White-tailed deer fawns present a good example of how human intervention with young wildlife can be problematic. Most fawns are born during late May and the first half of June. While fawns are able to walk shortly after birth, they spend most of their first several days lying still. During this period a fawn is also usually left alone by the adult female (doe) except when nursing. People occasionally find a lone fawn and mistakenly assume it has been orphaned or abandoned, which is very rare. Fawns should never be picked up. If human presence is detected by the doe, the doe may delay its next visit to nurse.

A fawn’s best chance to survive is by being raised by the adult doe. Fawns nurse three to four times a day, usually for less than 30 minutes at a time, but otherwise the doe keeps her distance. This helps reduce the chance that she will attract a predator to the fawn. The fawn’s protective coloration and ability to remain motionless all help it avoid detection by predators and people.

By the end of its second week, a fawn begins to move about more and spend more time with the doe. It also begins to eat grass and leaves. At about ten weeks of age, fawns are no longer dependent on milk, although they continue to nurse occasionally into the fall. During August, all deer begin to grow their winter coat and fawns lose their spots during this process.

Should you find a fawn or other young wildlife, If You Care, Leave It There. In nearly all cases that is the best thing for the animal. DO NOT consider young wildlife as possible pets. This is illegal and is bad for the animal. Wild animals are not well suited for life in captivity and they may carry diseases that can be given to people. Resist the temptation to take them out of the wild. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about young wildlife, visit the DEC website.

9/11 Responders Remembered Park Time Capsule And Memorial Ceremony

9/11 RESPONDERS REMEMBERED PARK TIME CAPSULE AND MEMORIAL CEREMONY HONORS 35 MORE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

On Saturday May 18, 2013, 35 new names were added to the Responders Remembered Memorial Park Wall in Nesconset, New York.  These 35 men and women were honored by the 9/11 Responders Remembered Memorial Group for their heroism and for making the ultimate sacrifice as a direct result of their work at the World Trade Center following 9/11.  

The 9/11 Responders Remembered Memorial Park, located at the northeast corner of Smithtown Boulevard and Gibbs Pond Road in Nesconset, New York opened two years ago after much planning by the 9/11 Responders Remembered Committee, including Legislator John M. Kennedy, Jr., Minority Leader of the Suffolk County Legislature (13^th LD-Nesconset), who was also in attendance this past Saturday morning.

In addition to the newly engraved names, a time capsule filled with various mementos, documents and other historical evidence regarding 9/11, its victims, heroes, and information surrounding the erection of the Memorial Park was buried and not to be opened until September 10, 2038.  One such document was the Suffolk County Resolution, sponsored by Legislator John M. Kennedy, that allowed the building of the 9/11 Responders Remembered Memorial Park.  “It has been and continues to be an honor and privilege to be a part of such an important site in the community.  Not only does it pay tribute to those we lost but it will be a reminder to our children and future generations to never forget,” said Legislator Kennedy.

An Appeal For Effective Pet Dealer Legislation

By Sandy Trehy

According to the American Humane Association each year in the United States approximately 8 million stray photo - canineworld.comand unwanted animals are turned into animal shelters.  Nearly half of the animals turned into the shelters, approximately 3.7 million will be euthanized due to the lack of good homes.

We have a terrible pet overpopulation and animal cruelty problem, and finally New York State is poised to make way for a change.  New York is one of the last states to maintain regulation of pet dealers solely at the state level. New York State’s pet dealer regulations do not adequately protect dogs in the state’s many commercial breeding facilities. These dogs typically spend their entire lives in tiny, cramped wire-floored cages that are stacked on top of each other—often outdoors, with no protection from the elements. Their puppies, which are purchased in pet stores, online and even on a breeder’s property, often go to their new homes with diseases, parasites or congenital and hereditary conditions. New owners are given the choice of returning sick puppies to pet stores where they will most likely be euthanized, or incurring the often lifetime costs associated with treating these illnesses.

In most cases, local governments are much better-suited to crack down on these pet dealers. If towns and cities across the state want to do better for their residents, their animals and their bottom lines, they should be allowed to do so. State controlled pet dealer regulation is the major road block to communities enacting local laws beyond the state’s ineffective pet dealer law.

What else is broken? Our local governments and animal shelters absorb the costs associated with unregulated breeders and unwanted pet store dogs through cruelty seizures, sheltering costs for relinquished pets, and legal proceedings. These expenses are paid for directly by your taxpayer dollars.

AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the general business law, in relation to the preemption of local laws, is in the NYS Assembly and Senate right now.  Many legislators are hearing from pet industry lobbyists and their retail partners, so it is critical that they hear from animal advocates and taxpayers like you as well!  Use this link to the  ASPCA Advocacy Center to quickly email your state assembly member and senator in Albany and urge them to pass A.740/S.3753 before New York’s legislative session wraps up in June.  Please also call your assembly member and senator! Find their names and phone numbers here.  A polite, courteous phone call is the best way to interact directly with legislative offices. You may use the content of the email for talking points, but your message can be as simple as “As your constituent, I ask you to please pass A.740/S.3753, related to local pet dealer regulation, this year.”  This is a critical first step to protecting innocent animals and reducing the cost to taxpayers of uncontrolled breeding of dogs for profit. 

ASPCA Advocacy Center

http://www.capwiz.com/aspca/issues/alert/?alertid=62660136&type=ST