Pacific Overtures

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:14pm

"PACIFIC OVERTURES," ROUNDABOUT
Roundabout Theatre Company will be holding its required Equity chorus call for the Broadway revival of "Pacific Overtures." Stephen Sondheim, music and lyrics; John Weidman, book; Amon Miyamoto, dir.; Paul Gemignani, mus'l dir.; Rino Masaki, choreo.; Jim Carnahan, casting dir.
- - - backstage.com

This is supposed to come to Broadway? I can't say I've heard of the show. What's it about.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 10:39pm

It is about Commodore Perry opening up of Japan

Bit of a commercial risk. Cannot say I have listened to the cast album in years It was a flop as I recall.

[DonnaMurphyRocks]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 10:47pm

It's a very unusual subject for a show, sort of about the Westernization of Japan and how they lose their old ways. Some of the music is reminiscent of "The Mikado".

[tpdc]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 10:51pm

The original Broadway production directed by Hal Prince and designed by Boris Aronson is still the most beautiful show I've ever seen. I loved the original production and I've seen several other productions as well. The Roundabout production is directed byt the man who directed the acclaimed Japanese production that briefly played NY and DC (as part of the Sondheim festival). The Japanese production was the best thing I saw that year. I plan to get tickets as soon as they go on sale.

[etoile]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:42am

To each their own taste! But there's a reason so many don't know of this show. Isn't Roundabout already doing one risking show this year? Is this dreck what they're spending those CABARET profits on?

[redmustang]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:59am

I saw Pacific Overtures during its run at the Winter Garden Totaling mesmerizing. Was up for the Tony. Lost to A Chorus Line, I think. Great songs. Give the OBC CD a try.

[etoile]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 1:08am

Oh, sweetie, I have. Not enough gin in the world to make me like this show.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 6:09am

I've heard that this revival will focus more on the Japanese point of view.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:14am

Totally in agreement with you, tpdc--the original production of PO was (and remains) the most beautiful production I have ever seen in my life.

[redmustang]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 1:02pm

etoile, sweetie, maybe it's all that gin causing you to have a somewhat distorted view of this great score.

[LouW95]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 3:30pm

I found the PO, show and the score a wonderful sedative...almost as good as Assassains. That is my opinion but I hope, as always, every show does well. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 3:42pm

A point of intrest...
Sondheim often sights Someone In A Tree as his favorite song that he has written. It is a virtual one act in the middle of this challenging show.

[etoile]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 3:49pm

I will admit that there is artistry in this show. But as one who does not enjoy Kabuki, it wasn't enough for me. And the gin didn't come into play until after the bottle of Excedrin for migraines failed to relieve that rhythmic pounding noise.

[tpdc]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 3:51pm

I don't know how anyone could sleep through ASSASSINS with all those gunshots. But I don't know how anyone could sleep through it because I think it's a gripping show. I know people who hate it, but they certainly weren't bored or put to sleep by it.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 6:39pm

Sondheim's score for "Pacific Overtures" is truly stunning (and "Someone In A Tree" is one of THE great musical theater songs). I fell in love with the score on just one hearing way back in the late 1970s and each time I play it again, I revel in its genius.

The entire concept creates the possibilty for a thrilling piece of theater, which is exactly what was achieved when it was staged at the Donmar Warehouse in London last summer. (I wish I could have seen Hal Prince's original staging.) I will certainly make the journey across the Atlantic to see the Roundabout production - to me it's just about the most exciting prospect of 2004 in New York.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 7:00pm

I'll add my two cents. I too saw the original production, I think it 3 times. It was a beautiful production and remains a beautiful score. This is sophisticated intelligent musical theatre. The Millie Rents Hairspray at the Little Shop of Horrors crowd will most likely turn their noses up and away and miss a glorious example of theatre creativity.

Welcome to Kanagawa!

Bulldog

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 7:05pm

I'm glad you said "most likely" will turn their noses up, because I'm a devout Hairspray fan, but I'm really excited to see this show.

[magruder]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 8:42pm

I always heard how artsy and inaccessible Pacific Overture is, but when I did actually see it, I was surprised how engrossing, moving and (yes) funny a lot of the material is. It's too audacious and truly odd for widespread appeal (and the finale is probably too unsettling for those that prefer the West to triumph over Eastern ways as in The King & I) but those here unfamiliar with Pacific Overture with the teensiest amount of adventure in their souls may find themselves enjoying more than they thought possible.

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 3/2/04 at 8:45am

personally, i can't WAIT to see ths show... it's a sondheim year for me! Sweeney Todd in March, Assassins in April, and Pacific Overtures in the fall!!! i recently bought the 6-DVD set of Sondheim and watched SUnday in the Park... what a beautiful show...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 3/2/04 at 8:54am

I cannot BELIEVE someone would describe a Sondheim show as DRECK...oy - what is this world coming to? I saw the tape of Pacific Overtures a couple of years ago at the Museum of Film and Television and it was amazing. I am actually thinking of putting "Poems" into my cabaret act because of it. Sondheim is and will remain the best composer/lyricist of our time, in my opinion. No one out there holds a candle to his brilliant and intelligent use of the english language and hauntingly lyric melody lines. I was lucky enough to be in a couple productions of his shows (Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George) and they were the two best experiences I have had as a performer.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 3/2/04 at 9:34am

One of the most MOVING, THRILLING, experiences I have EVER had in the theater (Original Cast)-ditto:Japanese production at Lincoln Center.

TWOGAAB

"A Class Act" will never die!
P.S. the Original Cast Recording (RCA) is one of the GREAT cast albums of all time. Listen to it.

Updated On: 3/2/04 at 09:34 AM

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 3/2/04 at 9:40am

i should listen to "A Class Act" again... Updated On: 3/2/04 at 09:40 AM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 3/2/04 at 10:23am

well, if you DO listen to Class Act - let me know if there is anything good about it - all my friends who saw it said it was dreadful.

Updated On: 3/2/04 at 10:23 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/2/04 at 11:01am

I saw the Giffin production in Chicago that went to the Donmar (and won the Olivier). It was a wonderful production of a beautiful show. The only bit that reminds me of The Mikado is the English Ambassador, but it was obviously written to mimic G&S. If you don't care for Japanese pentatonic music, drums, or kabuki, then it is safe to say you will not enjoy this show. I think it is an amazing piece of theatre that tells the story of a major worldwide historic event in such a artistically unique and stylized way. The score has so many gorgeous moments including Someone in a Tree, Please Hello, Next, Chrysanthemum Tea, Pretty Lady, Welcome to Kanagawa, and many others. I'd love to see it again.