Dear R&H Fans,

Which leading female character (from a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical) is your favorite?

Thanks in advance for your participation in the poll, and for your replies.

I voted for Nellie Forbush...I consider South Pacific R&H's masterpiece...it has the most songs that appeal to me, my favorite leading man character is it as well from an R&H...but as far as Nellie goes:

Nellie is a very complex character. He is full of mixed and widely varied emotions...she is also an extremely stong willed character. She has doubts about Emile and his children for a while...but she returns to take care of them while he is spying on the other islands...that takes courage...courage like that in a woman is a virtue I personally see in very high regard.

I also chose Nellie Forbush. I think that her complexity as a character is depicted in a more satisfying way than the other Rodgers and Hammerstein female leads and this is what makes her character arc the most dynamic. She has such a great deal of inner conflict - as mentioned above, her strong will and courage contrast her doubt, including her self-doubt - that it makes her relationships with Emile, Cable, Billis and Brackett all the more interesting to watch develop. It's so easy to see this in her key scenes with Emile, but take a look at the office scene where she is asked by Brackett to spy on Emile or the crossover scene where she discusses her letter from home with Cable: her complexity is carried through into every second of her stage time.

I chose Julie Jordan. I have several female friends who are victims of spousal abuse, and the thing I love about Julie is that she's the same wonderful caring person she always was, even after Billy beats her. That is key, IMHO, to never let the abuse destroy you and to continue to be who you are.

leisel isnt a lead shes a smaller part.

mother abbess and elsa are larger and they are still supporting.