URMSTON Musical Theatre bring the shimmering sands and sparkling waters of the southern ocean to Urmston Sports Centre with South Pacific, directed by Sally Beaman.

I spent an enchanted evening watching the love develop between US Ensign Nellie Forbush and French planter, Emile de Becque.

Sarah Kirk is the lively Nellie who, I count, sings ten faultless songs either alone or with others. Her energetic output is phenomenal and she portrays a person who is basically good but taken aback by Emile’s two Polynesian children.

Her attitude is summed up when Lt Cable sings You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught performed well by Rob Goodwin Davey.

Yes, racism surfaces in this mostly light-hearted story which, because it takes place in wartime, inevitably has sadder moments.

Basically, it’s about romance with songs to match. Arthur Hulse’s rendering of Some Enchanted Evening gives you goose pimples, This Nearly was Mine even more so.

There’s fun, too, much of it coming from Matt Fox’s Luther Billis. Kay Wood’s Bloody Mary is OK and with more zip and projection could be good.

Calum Cairns, 13, an Urmston Grammar School pupil and Grace Holmes, also 13 from Flixton Girls School, steal the show, as children do, with their performance of Dites Moi.

The orchestra, under Ed Nurse’s expert baton, and the back room staff deserve praise, too.

* At Urmston Leisure Centre until November 1, including a matinee. For tickets, call 0161 408 1288 or see umt.org.uk. Star rating: * * *