Pacific Overtures at Signature Theater

[theblackumbrella]

Posted: 3/14/23 at 9:31pm

Looking at the photos and reel, I think this production would thrive in Circle in the Square. It’s only running in VA for a month so I won’t be able to catch it, but I desperately hope it is revived soon or at least performed in other places more often.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 2:33am

Signature just dropped this trailer of ''Pacific Overtures.'' Looks cool!

For the record, this revival is doing the regular, 2-act version of the show, not the misguided, cut-down 1-act version that John Doyle did at Classic Stage Company in 2017. Also, the Signature production features new orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick for 9 pieces and ''small updates'' by John Weidman. And though Signature did ''Pacific Overtures'' in 2005 with an all-Caucasian cast (!), THIS production features an all-Asian ensemble and primarily Asian-American creative team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ1-udPewAE

Updated On: 3/15/23 at 02:33 AM

[dwirth]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 3:23am

I've watched the Signature Someone In A Tree teaser video probably a dozen times since it was posted by them a number of weeks ago - and the revised Tunick orchestrations simply sparkle in beautifully captured audio in the piece. A very nicely performed version of what has been reported to have been Sondheim's favorite song written:

https://youtu.be/USkZtKVnPk0

 

[Det95]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 9:47am

I'm so excited for this. I made an impulsive decision to fly in for less than 12 hours just to see it. 

[defenses]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 10:16am

i was there opening night! I knew very little about the show before going and was thoroughly impressed. I thought the cast was excellent, and the music was amazing. The humor with the Americans was a little hard to get used to at first (it’s outright absurd) but I liked it by the end of the first act. (Please Hello! to start act II was amazing!) It definitely has a smaller theater feel, but I highly recommend anyone in the DMV go see it.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 10:22am

I wish I could see this! The very misguided Doyle production stripped the material of its humor, its grandeur, and its entire conceit. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 1:16pm

I'm planning a trip right now (also hoping to catch Patrick Page in King Lear), excited to hear more reviews as this plays! Do you have an estimated run time for this?

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 2:40pm

chrishuyen said: "I'm planning a trip right now (also hoping to catch Patrick Page in King Lear), excited to hear more reviews as this plays! Do you have an estimated run time for this?"

The Signature site says 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission.

 

[George in DC]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 10:16pm

This is really a truly wonderful production. If you are in the DC area, I would encourage you to see it.

It's doubtful but I hope this production has a chance of transferring to NYC.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 3/24/23 at 11:19pm

I agree, this is a really wonderful production. The cast of ten versatile actors have wonderful voices and do the score justice. The design is really stellar, especially the costume and mask design. Very effective use of the intimate in-the-round space and the central turntable. Nice movement and fight choreography. It’s an all-around stellar production of a rarely produced masterpiece. It’s really a shame NYC got the misguided John Doyle version instead of this one.

I hear John Weidman made slight adjustments here and there. I don’t know the libretto by heart, so I couldn’t tell where, but I do know the lines in the finale are new to this production.

It’s apparently selling well for the remainder of the run, so jump on it and get those tickets if you have the chance to go.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/25/23 at 12:08am

If anyone travels to DC for the last weekend of Pacific overtures (as I am), just an FYI that Arena Stage's production of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches begins April 7 so you could do a two-fer.  And Angels is up on Goldstar for about half-off.

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 3/25/23 at 9:32am

JasonC3 said: "If anyone travels to DC for the last weekend of Pacific overtures (as I am), just an FYI that Arena Stage's production of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches begins April 7 so you could do a two-fer. And Angels is up on Goldstar for about half-off."

I'm doing that exact two-show weekend! I've never seen either Angels in America or Pacific Overtures before, so I'm really excited!