Pacific Overtures — Page 11

"I always find it amusing how defensive people get whenever someone expresses that they aren't a Sondheim fanatic."

I suppose it could be considered amusing.

To the extent that children's temper tantrums can be found amusing.

Personally, I find it laughably pathetic.

Updated On: 2/7/15 at 12:48 AM

I watched (or tried to watch) the video of the show and found it really really boring. Maybe you had to be there, but just nothing interested me. The concept was really interesting though and I still like the cast album.

Updated On: 2/7/15 at 01:00 AM

"You can't say I didn't warn you."

Yes, you did warn me, but although I agree with you on a lot of things, I wanted to form my own opinion about it. I was sad I didn't like it, though.

This thread went downhill pretty fast... and here I was thinking we could actually discuss aspects of the show.

As for G&S, they didn't write "operettas", they wrote "comic operas"

What's the difference?

The same difference between STUDENT PRINCE and PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

Although there are some lovely ballads in G&S, IMO, they are hardly the point of the show. What has been called "twee" and "contrived" in Gilbert's librettos is no more so than "Who's on First?" It's a style of comedy that TV has replaced with the sitcom, but that doesn't make G&S any less masters of the Victorian form.

Contrast that with the gorgeous and serious melodies of Sigmund Romberg. The plots may strike us as melodramatic now, but they were taken seriously at the time.

^^^^^^
I was more referring to the reactions at the more reasonable qualms of Fantod, rather than the vitriol of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

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No worries, I thought nothing of the sort, just thought it'd be best to make sure no one misinterpreted the comment as a defense of AfterEight.

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Also particularly obsessed with Mark Hsu Syers. He seems like a tenor in one number and a bass in others. Along with being kind of beautiful. Very sad to have looked him to see he passed away at such a young age.

I've yet to listen to this whole show, but I've watched the clip of Someone in a Tree more times than I can count- what a gorgeous song. And yeah, Mark Hsu Syers really is gorgeous and talented.

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My favorite thing on that taping is the woman in the audience guffawing when the Russian ambassador yells "DON'T TOUCH THE COAT" for the last time.

Yes, Mark Hsu Syers was wonderful in the show. He was Ensemble but the creators used him all over the place in the show. Voice range was amazing.
Beyond tragic that he died at 30 in a car wreck.

Isao Sato killed in a plane crash at 40.

And I believe Patrick Kinser-Lau died of AIDS.at 30. He was a sailor in the song Pretty Lady and the Dutch Ambassador in Please, Hello among other parts.

Mako is gone and Yuki Shimoda too.

This cast felt like friends. You know that feeling when you see a show multiple times.

I was enchanted by this show-like I've said I saw it 17 times. Used to wait at the stage door before and after the show like Eve Harrington. Usually I was the only one standing at the curtain call. Yes, Pacific Overtures was not for the masses. I don't do those"fan things" anymore but it sure was fun.

So glad the taping of the show for Japanese TV exists.

Updated On: 2/10/15 at 04:13 PM

I've certainly spent a good deal of time browsing Wikipedia articles about Japan since watching. But it's definitely a show that I watch and go, 'I am fascinated by this, but I totally understand people who aren't. Or who outright hate it.' I can't imagine a new musical like it being produced on Broadway nowadays.

Ethel, your post honestly made me teary. I've already been sad lately about Mako after rewatching Avatar, where he was replaced by his long-time student in the third season after he passed away. (He passed shortly after a really lovely episode about his character mourning the anniversary of his son's death.)