Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
#0Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:11pm
It's crazy that I sat through yet another show wishing I had a pen and paper, thinking about what I was going to write when I got home. Crazy, I say. Anyway....
I'll start with my typical spill of sentiments and get that out of the way first. Studio 54 has a very special place in my heart, and going with TGIF was perfect, because it's been almost exactly a year since we first crossed paths, all because of Cabaret. We spent a while looking around at various things, reminiscing... so many memories there for both of us.
On a less sentimental note, it was great to be there with someone with whom I had concurring opinions of the show, and to find some of the same rather interesting parallels I'll talk about in a bit.
The theatre - as worried as I was for the protection of my beloved Studio 54 raunchiness - looks pretty good. The leopard print carpet is still there, but the couches are black now. *pouts*. The tables have be re-arranged, but it's still essentially the same. It just seems like it's not the right place for this show. It was all so perfect for Cabaret with the tables and the nightclub setting, but this show has no connection to the grit associated with Studio 54 that gives it its personality. They did do a nice job with the renovations, though, and we sat in the mezzanine anyway; from there it looks like a completely different theatre than from the orchestra, so I don't think it really mad either of us too terribly sad, even though I'm a pathetically sentimental idiot. I would, though, hate to see the layout change, even if there's not perfect correlation between future shows and the venue; it would lose its charm.
Now, moving on to the show. I had no prior knowledge of it, other than the very bare bones of the subject. I knew that it was about imperialism in Japan, but that's literally about it. I found the show a bit slow moving at first, but I liked it much better as it progressed. It's quite unlike any musical I've seen before in terms of subject matter; a bit of an odd one for a musical, I thought. Act I was very long, but the plot breakup worked. It was much more powerful by the end of the show, with themes that still ring true, in some ways.
I liked the score, but there were less musical numbers than I would've expected, which I thought made parts of the show drag. Not more than two or three of the songs really stuck or felt that unique or memorable, though.
The cast - I thought B.D. Wong would've had a bigger part, but again, I had no familiarity beforehand. He was great. The rest of the cast was very talented, as they must be to be on Broadway, but I didn't find any particular standouts.
TGIF and I actually found a couple of parallels between Pacific Overtures and Cabaret, strangely enough. I'd like to think that it's not simply because we were thinking about and missing Cabaret, but on the other hand, I'm not sure that had we not been thinking of it given the circumstances, we'd have thought this up. They aren't all that strong, but we had an interesting conversation about this, so I wanted to include it. We found a little bit of a correlation between the Reciter and the Emce - the narrator-type, watching everything, all-knowing, and representative of other characters' feelings. Also, each was absorbed into what he'd been watching at the end - the Reciter into his society's heirarchy and mission, and the Emcee into the downfall of his society. Both shows have a decently political nature, though Pacific Overtures is much more literal, and they're both about things falling apart. The beginning of the final scene (the part of it that was supposed to be war) reminded us a bit too much of Cabaret's finale. I don't really know how valid any of that is, but I figured I'd toss it out there...
B.D. Wong gave a beautiful speech at the end asking the audience to donate to the tsunami relief effort, too.
Anyway, overall, I'm glad I got to see this. Sorry this post is so long. If you stuck it out, you probably deserve and entire box of cookies. 
#1re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:14pm
Not more than two or three of the songs really stuck or felt that unique or memorable, though.
*sniff*
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#2re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:15pm
Don't cry Priest. 
As always, a beautiful review. Long live Studio 54!
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
#3re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:15pm
I'm sorry Priest!! I do love Sondheim, genius that he is. I loved the orchestrations and stuff, but the music just... didn't stick.
aspiringguy715
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/04
#4re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:17pm
Great review Emcee!!!
I really want to check this out.
Don't cry Priest, Sondheim is a God anyway.
AG+Emcee February '05=YAY!!!
#5re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:17pm
reunited!! YAY!!
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#6re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:18pm
Very nice, Emcee.
LOL...BwayTheatre11+Emcee March '05=YAY!
CCM '10!
#7re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:19pm
YAY!!! I'm going to be so busy! 
#8re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:21pm
Speaking of Sondheim, I miss THE FROGS. WHY OH WHY WAS IT A LIMITED RUN??? *pouts*
I know nothing about Pacific Overtures. Isn't that terrible... the only recording I want is the complete one and I can't find it...
insomniak
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
#9re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:29pm
Thanks Emcee. TGIF, care to add to that lovely review? Overall, would you two recommend it or the cast recording?
#10re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:31pm
or the cast recording?
Cast Recording??
From your fingers to God's eyes.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#11re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:38pmokay, yeah... I just bought the english national opera one...
#12re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:41pmI went shopping this afternoon, and I saw two different recordings. What are they?
#13re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:41pmCaroline-Q-or-Tboo *hearts* Pacific Overtures
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
#14re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:52pmThe English National Opera Recording is more complete, but the OBCR is better by leaps and bounds.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
amasis
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/7/04
#15re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:53pm
Thank you for that, Emcee.
And priest, when I return to the US, I'll make Emcee listen to as many Sondheim work as I can, and we'll see what she says about his music then.
#16re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:54pm
well, if you know me, I always go for the one that's most complete.
#17re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:56pm
Amasis! I do like his music. *pouts* Have I ever told you about my love for the Gypsy score? *pouts more*
I promise I'm not a bad theatre geek.
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#18re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:34pm
Except Sondheim didn't compose Gypsy. 
I always thought "Someone in a Tree" was a bit of an earworm.
#19re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:35pm
It was, Plum. I liked "Welcome to Kanagawa," "Please Hello!" and "Pretty Lady" quite a bit.
Okay, Sondheim didn't write the music for Gypsy? I think I knew that, and temporarily forgot. I'm clearly not very good at this game.
#20re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:36pm
"TGIF, care to add to that lovely review?"
As always Emcee has an impecable way of saying things that are in my head yet I get down on paper - well screen for that matter.
I would like to add my comments about the score. While sitting here at my computre I cannot remember more than a handful of melodies. HOWEVER, that does not mean that I think of it any less than shows with scores where I can hum an entire song on exiting. It is one of the shows that you must know and listen to to fully appreciate its beauty. If the score is one thing, its beautiful.
In fact, thats the word I would use to sum up the entire show. Beautiful.
Emcee, as you know, I saw many of the same parrallels to Cabaret as you did. I really do believe that it was because there are legitimate correlations between the two, but were just highlighted to us because of where we saw it.
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
#21re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:37pm
I had so much fun today. Thanks for coming with meeeee!
#22re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:38pm:)
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#23re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:50pmSondheim wrote the lyrics to Gypsy- the music was written by Jule Styne. So you were right in associating Sondheim's name with the show. :)
#24re: Emcee and TGIF return to Studio 54: Pacific Overtures
Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:53pm
haha, that much I know.
*still feels stupid*
*looks for way to redeem self*
*gives up and wanders away dejectedly*
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