Post #372505 by ikitnrev on Tue, Apr 8, 2008 2:36 PM

I was also one of those who saw the Arena Stage production of 'South Pacific' in DC. It was a great show, and a well-received revival. And there is a good story about tikis and the show.

About 5-6 weeks before the show opened in DC, I went to attend a lecture/forum that was hosted by Arena Stage - the director, the actress who played Nellie, the Choreographer, and a few other people were there to talk about the upcoming show. They had a Q and A session - and I asked whether they were going to have any tikis in the show. The director, Molly Smith, said she wasn't exactly sure of what a tiki was, but as far as she knew, there were not going to be any in the show.

The evening I saw the show, there was the scene where LT Cable and Liat spend the night together This 'theatre-in-the-round' production featured a center platform that rose from the floor, and at the end of the scene, petals that floated down from above. And there, standing at two corners of the stage, where stood tiki figures, looking over the entire scene. I'd like to think that my query planted the tiki idea in her head, and perhaps she later went and talked to the set designer, who was able to construct a tiki figure.

After the show was done, I contacted Arena Stage, inquiring about purchasing one of those stage prop tikis - and they agreed to sell me one. This tiki now stands proudly in my tiki room, a great souvenir from a great show ... here is a picture taken several years ago.

I'm hoping that the Lincoln Center production will feature some tikis too!

Vern