Featuring star making turns by the irresistibly charming Irish American actress Kelli O'Hara and John Wayne's (much better looking) son Matthew Morrison, "South Pacific" delivers on every level and it richly deserves each of the seven Tony Awards it picked up this year, including Best Revival, Best Direction and Best Leading Actor.

Right from its opening moments, when the orchestra's spirited overture reminds us that this is perhaps the most beguiling stage musical ever written, Rodgers and Hammerstein's epic score dazzles the audience with one classic song after the next.

In Act One the curtain rises on a faraway island in the Pacific during the Second World War and we're at the home of the wealthy, middle-aged French planter, Emile de Becque (played by Tony winner Paulo Szot), who is hosting the charming American nurse, Nellie Forbush (the pitch perfect O'Hara).

The growing attraction between the two leads is the focus of the scene, leading on to one of the greatest love songs of the musical theatre ("Some Enchanted Evening"). After showing her his home on the island the sophisticated Emile asks the homespun Nellie to consider becoming his wife by serenading her with a love song that's so potent you know right away she's going to consent.

Meanwhile, on another part of the island, a group of sexually frustrated Marines are lamenting the lack of womenfolk, but not the gorgeous scenery. As one of them remarks they have everything on the island that they could ever possibly want - except dames.

The song that follows, "There Is Nothing Like a Dame," manages to be uproarious, beautifully choreographed, relentlessly witty and movingly heartfelt. Let's not kid ourselves, how often do you see all those elements coming together at the same time on a musical stage?

That unforgettable song sets up the arrival of the broodingly gorgeous Matthew Morrison, who is simultaneously the image of his famous father and yet much better looking (and - surprise - he can carry a tune). In the role of Lieutenant Cable, Morrison arrives on the island not with romance on his mind, but to establish a coast watch on a nearby Japanese-held island.

Since Emile knows this terrain well, Cable wants him to tag along on this dangerous mission. But Emile has just found the woman of his dreams, and has no intention of risking everything by endangering his life.

All of this drama provides a backdrop where Cable can take a rest from his mission to contemplate the beauty of the island and the local Tonkinese girls. Soon he's hopelessly in love with young Liat, a 17-year-old beauty.

But although his heart is completely captured, the powerful racial taboos of the era kick in immediately. Cable is captivated, but fearful of the social consequences. And meanwhile, when Nellie discovers that Emile is the father of two Eurasian children by a previous marriage, she becomes so upset that she leaves him, determined never again to see him again.

Racism - ugly, unvarnished racism - is at the core of South Pacific. Both Cable and Nellie discover transformative loves, but both reject them out of fear and prejudice.

From the point of view of 2008, this kind of racial bigotry may seem even more shocking than it must have when the musical first appeared in 1948. Back then interracial marriage was a crime and racism was the rule, and now - hopefully - it's the exception, but it still has lost none of its power to horrify.

The tension between the head and the heart leads to the show's most blistering song ("Carefully Taught"), where Cable recognizes that a man has to be taught to hate and fear, telling Emile that he's learned his lesson and after the war he plans to make his permanent home on this island.

The racial anguish, which is real enough, catapults the musical and the performers to unexpected highs. When the stakes are this real, we're not just looking at a piece of escapist fluff.

There's a war on, after all. The skies are darkening, and the best chance of (two) lifetimes are being passed up by two well meaning souls who realize too late they may be giving up the greatest gift they'll ever get from life. Considering what they almost lose, the happy ending is all the sweeter.

"South Pacific" is now playing at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 West 65th Street. For tickets call 212-239-6200.