Pacific Overtures - "Someone in a Tree"

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:09pm

Just saw Pacific Overtures this weekend, and then read Brantley's review, in which he says:
And then there's the transporting "Someone in a Tree," which is beautifully rendered here. Sung by Japanese witnesses on the periphery of the epochal meeting of Perry and the Japanese lords in 1853 - a boy in a tree, his older self and a guard below the raised tent in which the meeting occurred - the number is one of those great Sondheim pieces that at first seem to aim at the mind and then shoot straight through the heart.
I have to say, this number really made no sense to me. And I'm a big Sondheim fan, but this number just seemed to just not make sense. The focus is on "well, what did they say at the meeting", and then it goes onto two people remembering the event, but not giving any information about it... it just seemed to repeat, never going anywhere. Musically I like it, but onstage it just seemed like a song than never got past the beginning...
Perhaps it was this production? This was my only viewing of Pacific Overtures, am I just missing it?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:22pm

My interpretation:

The point was not actually what they said. It was an extremely private, yet momentous event as observed by a couple of eavesdroppers who immediately realized they were participating in a monumental historic event. One could only see what was happening and one could only hear and the two of them together paint an abstract portrait of what happened, of which the details are not as important as the event.

"It's the ripples, not the stream that is happening..."

[pattifan2]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:27pm

It's funny but this number is one of my favourite ever show numbers. It is really a one-act show in itself The first time I ever saw it staged at Leicester Haymarket some years ago it was a 'goosebump' moment for me when the Old Man's younger self runs onstage and climbs the tree. Although the number is on the first level about witnessing the meeting between Perry and the lords, I thinks it speaks volumes about how stories are passed down the ages with everyone putting their own slant on things - a little like Chines Whispers. I love the interraction between the Old Man and his younger self and the lyrics are just beautiful - ripple not the sea, not the garden but the stone, not the building but the beam etc etc. Sondheim is a genius - I'd love to see this production having seen the BIG version at the Haymarket and then the smaller scale production at the Donmar last year. While both were totally opposite in terms of scale the impact was equally great.

[Tommycanuhearme]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:29pm

If you remember there were no real witnesses to what actually happened in the Treaty House. This is a somewhat fictious accounting of what happened there. The boy in the tree can only see inside the Treaty House but cannot hear what is going on inside. The warrior can hear from underneath but cannot see inside the Treaty House. So, we have the same story being told from two different perspectives. As you listen to the lyrics we learn that a single action gets interpreted differently one through sight and one through sound. Hope this helps!

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:38pm

Okay... then maybe it was the production itself, or me. I do like the song on the CD, but while I very much understand the ideas people are responding with, they only come to me as I listen to the song, not so much onstage when I was seeing them.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:42pm

I agree with TCYHM. Despite "being" there, those who could claim to have been there don't have the full perspective on what actually did go on during the historic moment. Seeing an action from afar doesn't give the full perspective if you can't listen to what is actually being discussed. And words can often be taken out of context without seeing the actions that accompany them...

Regardless, having seen this revival yesterday, I did agree with Brantley, regarding the number. It was beautifully done and sung.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 3:44pm

FYI -- Sondheim has described as his favorite among all the songs he's ever written. Check out the extra on the PBS Broadway: The American Musical DVD which features Sondheim in his home discussing the song at length -- it's meaning, it construction -- and then having the original cast perform it in his living room with him accompanying them at the piano. A remarkable moment.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 4:03pm

Sondheim also says that this is his most personal song.


This song is a masterpiece all by itself.

Updated On: 12/6/04 at 04:03 PM

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 4:07pm

I couldn't agree more - it's easily one of his most complete songs. So carefully constructed

[Plum]

Posted: 12/6/04 at 5:20pm

I adore this song, and it's not just about the limited perspectives of the boy and the samurai.

Without someone in a tree/ Nothing happened here

It's also about the proverbial "tree in the woods." :)