'Pacific Overtures': Bravo to Kunoichi's rare San Francisco revival at Brava Theater!

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 6/3/25 at 6:38pm

''Pacific Overtures,'' Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's amazing musical about Japan, turns 50 years old next year. But the advantages of seeing this Tony-winning show, about the Westernization of this Far East country, onstage "remain remote." I first saw the original Broadway Asian-American cast, led by the legendary Mako, play the Curran Theatre in 1976. Has ANY San Francisco theater company revived it since? That's all the more reason to offer kudos to Kunoichi Productions' strong and striking revival, now playing through June 15 at the Brava Theater, 2781 24th St., San Francisco. Staged on Yusuki Soi's elegant set, it's being co-produced by the Brava! For Women in the Arts, Theatre of Yugen and Playland Productions.

The theatrical and musical challenges of ''Pacific Overtures'' are many. It blends the sights and sounds of East meeting West, and incorporates elements of Kabuki and Noh, plus samurai swordfighting. Fortunately, it's directed with flair by Nick Ishimaru, co-founder of Kunoichi and former director of Theatre of Yugen, with musical direction by Diana Lee. It features an excellent ensemble of 11 and a fine 7-piece orchestra.

The original ''Pacific Overtures,'' directed by Hal Prince, offered a mostly all-male cast. And true to Kabuki tradition, they also played the women. But in this Kunoichi revival, women have a more pivotal role, like Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, a member of the S.F. Mime Troupe Collective. She not only plays the Reciter with gravitas and grace, she designed the show's cavalcade of lovely costumes. Also, Mayadevi Ross gleefully leads the geishas in 'Welcome to Kanagawa,'' and at our matinee, swing Julie Wright spilled the ''Chrysanthemum Tea'' as the Shogun's Mother.

On the men's side, Nick Nakashima anchors the show the way Commodore Matthew Perry's gunboat sat in Tokyo Bay in 1853. He portrays Kayama with presence and a beautifully vibrant voice. Originally, the haunting song of ''There Is No Other Way'' was sung by two Observers, watching Kayama and his wife, Tamate (Sarah Jiang). But here, we hear Nakashima and Jiang sing it exquisitely themselves. Nakashima's other duet, ''Poems,'' pairs him with Vinh G. Nguyen, who's boyishly charming as Manjiro, and they're a dazzling duo. And ''Someone in a Tree,'' which Sondheim often has cited as his favorite song, gets a soaring rendition from Edward Im (as the Boy), Lawrence-Michael Arias (as the Old Man) and Stephen Kanaski (as the Warrior). These are among Act I's highlights. However, Act II is a little more of a mixed bag. As a trio of British sailors, Ryan Marchand, Im and Kanaski sound sublime with ''Pretty Lady.'' But the ''Please Hello,'' where Lord Abe greets a comic quintet of foreign admirals, comes off rough and underrehearsed. Sondheim's score is tricky, and overall, most of the show's singers negotiate their notes better than others; with any luck, the latter will improve with more performances.

Next? ''Pacific Overtures' '' remaining dates are from June 4-15, so if you love Sondheim, catch it before it says ''Sayonara!''

https://www.kunoichiproductions.org/

[Hest88]

Posted: 6/3/25 at 7:36pm

Thanks for the review. I've been trying to figure out if we can fit it into our show schedule (and if it would be worth it). "Poems" is my favorite from Pacific Overtures, followed by "A Bowler Hat." Oddly enough, I've never cared for "Someone in a Tree" even though I know that was Sondheim's favorite. I always preferred "A Bowler Hat" -- which is similar thematically while appealing to me rather more melodically.