This island paradise doesn’t shy away from tough themes.

“Surely this isn’t opera,” I heard one lady mutter as we took our seats at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday night for the opening of South Pacific. Indeed quite a few in the audience seemed not entirely sure if they were going to enjoy the experience. By the end of the overture, however, Broadway had cast its familiar spell and there were few who doubted that we were in for the promised “enchanted evening”.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1949 musical about love and war in the South Pacific is probably their best work; without doubt it is one of the finest musicals ever written. A combination of meaningful storyline, smart lyrics and an outpouring of memorable melodies ensure its place in the pantheon of the greats. This multiple Tony Award-winning Lincoln Center production, here with an all-Australian cast, rises to the challenge. Add to that a stunning design and some superlative performances and you have one of the most thrilling theatrical nights in musical memory. Many column inches have been expended on whether Opera Australia should be doing commercial musicals. On this showing, I’d say the answer is a resounding...