Pacific Overtures 1/11/05

[Kris2]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 2:56am

I went into this with virtually no knowledge of the show or production. I liked it but found it lacking in several areas. First off, the set is gorgeous but I found it worked better in the context of the first act than the second. There was a minor set problem in the beginning. They make use of numerous panels and the scenery fell off of one panel while it was turning. Two crew guys walked on and pulled it offstage. I thought the lighting and sound design were first rate. Beautiful job.

The direction felt muddled. The tone was uneven at times, especially in the beginning during Four Black Dragons. The production could use some speeding up in the pacing. It feels far too relaxed at times. I think if it were sped up, it would help create tension which I thought should be there but wasn't. I did not find the fault in the material, but in the way it was presented. The dramatic scenes were distinctly underwhelming. The choreography was wonderful and the costumes were rich. I wouldn't rank the score among Sondheim's best, but it's got a simple, melodious beauty and is certainly worth a listen. The opening number was gorgeously done though.

Some notes on the cast. B.D. Wong, while likable, is miscast or suffered inadequate direction. I felt he was the source of much of the uneven tone. He rarely stops smiling. While he seems to be playing the Reciter with comical amusement or as a philosophical ray of light, it doesn't quite click. The first part works to an extent at times. Oftentimes I found he fell flat in his portrayal. I enjoyed him but the Reciter should've been a stronger force. Telly Leung has an annoying presence overall, especially as the Boy and Sailor, but he did fine as the Shogun's companion. Michael K. Lee is adequate as Kayama. In general, he lacks a presence or personality. Too serious and unengaging. Poems was boring. I was enjoying the lighting more than the scene itself. I liked watching his transition in The Bowler Hat though. I thought that was very effective. He definitely had his moments.

On a more positive note, Alvin Ing does an admirable job as the Shogun's Mother and the Old Man. I enjoyed his presence a lot. Chrysanthemum Tea was excellent, as was his role in Someone In A Tree. Sab Shimono lends a strong, noble air to his parts. Hazel Anne Raymundo hits all the right comic notes as the Shogun's wife. She was hysterical with the paper cranes. Paolo Montalban is solid and bursting with youthful exuberance as Manjiro. Alan Muraoka was in for Francis Jue and you couldn't tell he was an understudy. He was wonderful as the Madam and in all his other respective roles. Yoko Fumoto did a fine job as Tamate, as did all the Admirals. The ensemble was very solid even if some of the lyrics get lost.

There is a decent amount of humor in Pacific Overtures, some of which gets lost in the hands of less than able comedians. I laughed though. On another note, a lot of the drama never gets off the ground. I admire the ambition of the show, and I think a lot of pride can be taken in the work as a whole. I think it's a very important piece. Maybe it takes a familiarity to really appreciate it, but a second visit is unfortunately out of the question. Miyamoto seems to have missed his mark in this particular production though. For a piece that I think should hold much weight, it felt disturbingly light. However, I'd rather see a second-rate Sondheim production than some of the other stuff that's out there.

[dancindramadude]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:09am

Well I thought the show was amazing, but you definatly have to know the Japanese style of theatre (Kabuki, Bunraku, and Noh). I agree with everything that you said as a compiment, but everything that you said was wrong about the production is very much Japanese and was intended. Especailly yoyur comments on the narrator. B.D. Wong portrayed a Bunraku narrator quite well. And also the simplicity of the Sondheim music is also to portray a Japanese sense. The set is a very Noh Theatre set. I found the geishas hilarious and the bunraku puppet used for the emperor awesome. I would definatly go and see it again. And dont get me wrong I find ll your arguements justified (the group I went with didnt like it very much)

[Kris2]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:23am

It's very possible that you have to be more in tune with Japanese styles of theater. However, I'm not. I'm sure many of the people who see it are not. B.D. Wong may have portrayed a Bunraku narrator well, but I still think that it broke the tone of the show too much. I don't personally feel that particular character style worked in the context of the show. I thought Welcome to Kanagawa was wonderfully comical and many of the physical elements were striking though.

The production may have been very much Japanese, and that's fine. It just didn't work for me. You loved it and that's cool. I'm glad you did. However, for me the drama lacked a heaviness which made it feel almost like fluff. For a Broadway show and a piece like this, I thought that was a huge problem. It lacked a punch. Alas, to each their own.

[sipos]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:44am

Kris2 thanks. I had been interested in hearing a general personal review of the overall production.

And I really like the way you write.

Thanks again

[ken8631]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 6:31am

Also saw it last night. I thought BD Wong was great, but I couldn't hear many of the lyrics or lines of the other charactors in the play. Many people left around us at intermission and didn't return. Too bad, since I thought the second act was better than the first. I thought the costuming of the Admirals was hilarious. Overall, I thought it was good, but I wouldn't go see it again or recommend it to any of my co-workers or freinds.

[Glebb]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 7:27am

If only I could see Pacific Overtures again.

[wildcat]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 8:45am

Sounds like we should wait for that wonderful video to get a general release. Someday...

[Kris2]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 11:30am

ken8631 - Agreed on all counts.

Combine a Sondheim show with a Japanese style and it unfortunately doesn't make for an accessible night of theater for many people. I just read Eric Grode's Broadway.com review of Pacific Overtures and I'd have to say I agree with many of the things he said. Especially the awkward tug between cultures. However, there are still many positive elements. The show itself is good. The music is quite beautiful and I feel the cast is strong on the whole, if not perfect. It's very well sung. The costumes, lighting, choreography and set are truly stunning. I'm glad I got to see it. My fault lies with Miyamoto's direction though.

[ken8631]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:59pm

Kris2

Agreed - are you a critic? You write very well! I'm an engineer, so if I spell corrcetly it's a plus. Off to see Little Women tomorrow night. Wife and I saw 3 plays last week, 700 Sundays being the best of the lot. (other were Good Vibrations which was so-so so far and la Cage - very good)

[seasons of love]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 1:06pm

I saw Pacific Overtures on January 2nd. I do agree that the show was lacking in some points, and I too found the Chrysanthamum Tea number to be one of the best. The Shugun's wife was hysterical with the paper cranes :)! I absolutely love the song Someone In a Tree, and I thought that they did a pretty good job with it. I didn't find Telly Leung annoying, but to each their own opinion. Thanks for the review!

[Kris2]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 7:47pm

Thanks guys. I'm glad you all enjoyed the show too, despite any faults it may (or may not) have.

ken8631: I'm an engineer, so if I spell corrcetly it's a plus.

That made me laugh a lot. Aw. I swear, we're on the same page though. I *just* saw Little Women today (and yes, Sutton Foster was back in it). No, I'm not a critic. Just your average theatergoer. There's no way I can get to 700 Sundays and I plan on skipping out on Good Vibrations, but I'll probably end up at La Cage in the next month or two. Updated On: 1/13/05 at 07:47 PM