South Pacific is a Romance Set on a Tropical Island

The students of Glen Ridge are participating in Passaic Valley Summer Theater’s presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific. The Performances are scheduled for the month of July on 29, 30 and 31 at 8 p.m., along with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Aug. 1. All performances will be held at Passaic Valley High School, 100 East Main St. and Little Falls. The program is an annual summer theatrical experience performed completely by students from high schools in the surrounding region.

This year’s show includes students from Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Kinnelon, Lakeland, Morris Hills, Mt. St. Dominic Academy, New York City, Nutley, Passaic Valley, River Dell, West Essex, West Orange and Wood-Ridge. The production staff includes Jeff Budd as director and Ken Magos as musical director. Grand Island youths auditioned, cast, directed, rehearsed, choreographed, blocked and built the entirety of the Grand Island Little Theatre’s summer musical, “South Pacific.” In a unique situation, Northwest High School alumni and students from the Grand Island area have pulled together the musical without the help of “adult” directors, to increase money for GILT. The musical will be performed Friday through Sunday and July 30-Aug. 1. South Pacific” is a romance set on a tropical island during World War II.

The two couples who fall in love are U.S. Navy nurse Nellie Airman and French plantation owner Emile de Becque, and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a local native girl, Liat. Their gladness and well-being are threatened by the complex issues of war, prejudice and intertwining loves. Popular songs that will be performed include “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” “Bali Ha’i,” “There is Nothin’ Like A Dame,” and “A Wonderful Guy.” The 2008 touring production of the Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific opens in the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Even though the musical garnered a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and various Tony awards when it opened in 1945, this production is the first time the show has been revived on Broadway since its first run.

The story of perky ensign Nellie Forbush and the dashing Emile deBeque is most often remembered for its sweeping, romantic score that includes “Some Enchanted Evening” and “Bali Hai,” but the new revival emphasizes on the undercurrents of racism and war. The great and well admired show South Pacific will be performing on Jul 20, 2010-Aug 1, 2010 at The Buell Theatre. Performance Times are on Tue-Sat at 8pm,Sat-Sun at 2pm and Sunday at 7:30pm. In a statement, Chapin credits the current Broadway revival of South Pacific (at the Vivian Beaumont Theater through August 22) as the motivation for the new film treatment, saying that it led the producers to see modern cinematic possibilities that challenge us all to interpret this masterwork for new generations of filmgoers. Get your Cheap South Pacific Tickets

What Are Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have been a problem for society occurring even during the overindulgent Ancient Roman times, and have been unidentified and little understood until the last twenty years. How prevalent are these disorders today? It is estimated in Alberta alone, 1 in every 100 members of the female population suffer from some form of eating disorder, with at least one percent of these suffer from anorexia nervosa and three percent from bulimia nervosa. According to these statistics, 9,500 women are anorexic and 25,000 are bulimic. There are also an increasing number of men who suffer from eating disorders, but are not included in these figures. Unfortunately, eating disorders can become so severe that hospitalization is required for treatment and in some severe cases death may result. While the death rate for bulimics is low, the death rate for anorexics is higher and is estimated to range between 1 in 5 and 1 in 100.

Eating orders are characterized by an intense preoccupation with food and are accompanied by the irrational fear of getting fat. While this may be true, the behaviours of those with eating disorders vary greatly depending on their personality type, their obsession with weight issues, and their odd habits that surround the preparing and the eating of food.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most familiar of the eating disorders, but binge eating disorder is sometimes also included. While these three have similar underlying causes, the behaviours of the victims are different. Specifically, anorexia is characterized by dramatic weight loss caused by continuous self-starvation, and in most cases accompanied by intense exercise. Bulimia, on the other hand, is identified by its bingeing followed by purging, either by vomiting, or by the use of laxatives, emetics, diuretics or diet pills. The result is frequent weight fluctuations rather than profound weight loss. Interestingly, with bulimia, the body proportions can vary from profound underweight, to normal, to profound overweight. Binge eating disorder, sometimes called compulsive eating disorder has similar symptoms to bulimia, but without the purging. These victims are usually rather overweight, and sometimes morbidly so, resulting in the development of a number of serious health problems.

All forms of eating disorders can be life threatening, therefore, it is vital to get immediate intervention for the sufferer when the behaviour is first detected. It would be advisable to consult the family doctor so that a thorough examination and lab work-up may be completed and referral made for counselling and follow-up.