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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2022 19:52:51 GMT
On paper, Pacific Overtures indeed comes across unappealing to many people, but having seen it twice, I think it ranks among Sondheim's best work with a compelling story and some gorgeous songs. It is not for everybody, but I always encourage Sondheim fans to give it a try.
I believe a video of the original Broadway production is online and Someone in A Tree (one of my favorite Sondheim songs) was nicely performed in the virtual Sondheim production, Take Me to the World, during the pandemic.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 27, 2022 6:58:07 GMT
I am not sure how Kabuki this will be. Matthew Wright is known for directing and appearing in musicals. Most PO's give a nod to Kabuki while not being faithful to the art. Also, as the evening progresses the entire thing becomes more westernised with echoes of Gilbert and Sulivan and Puccini.
I find the whole show incredibly moving and beautiful.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 27, 2022 10:13:32 GMT
I wonder if they might bring the cast over from Japan. Even just to avoid having another almost all-white production of the show.
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Post by tmesis on Sept 27, 2022 10:38:56 GMT
Another enthusiastic vote for Pacific Overtures from me. I absolutely adore everything about it. And the songs are exquisitely subtle - even by Sondheim’s high standards.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 27, 2022 12:31:20 GMT
I wonder if they might bring the cast over from Japan. Even just to avoid having another almost all-white production of the show. I really hope the casting won't be white. I would also like for females to be cast like the recent Studio 54 and Classic Stage productions |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 27, 2022 12:39:08 GMT
They must have had a reprieve with the building being taken off them! Hurrah.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 27, 2022 13:37:50 GMT
I wonder if they might bring the cast over from Japan. Even just to avoid having another almost all-white production of the show. I really hope the casting won't be white. I would also like for females to be cast like the recent Studio 54 and Classic Stage productions I assume you mean you “hope the casting is diverse”? |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Sept 27, 2022 13:43:15 GMT
I really hope the casting won't be white. I would also like for females to be cast like the recent Studio 54 and Classic Stage productions I assume you mean you “hope the casting is diverse”? I hope it's an all Asian cast like in all its New York productions |
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Post by inthenose on Sept 27, 2022 13:50:06 GMT
I assume you mean you “hope the casting is diverse”? I hope it's an all Asian cast like in all its New York productions I’d personally like a cast of mixed backgrounds where the characters origins are appropriately represented within the setting in which this show takes place. I think limiting casting by making it all white, or all black, or all Asian is actually limiting the possibility of finding the best cast of auditionees for each individual role. |
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Post by Mr Snow on Sept 30, 2022 10:47:48 GMT
Also very excited. Never seen it or heard more than that one song.
Can someone recommend the best recording?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 30, 2022 10:59:07 GMT
The original is wonderful but it could do with some digital enhancing.
ENO - great to hear a massive orchestra but the voices are a bit too heavy (and I love opera). If going for this one get the highlights as it contains all the songs. The full length includes all the dialogue which is something I've never understood.
Studio 54 - I think this is great but it does have its haters. The orchestra on this is thin but I like the voices and it does not sound as dated as the original.
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Post by alece10 on Sept 30, 2022 11:10:58 GMT
Also very excited. Never seen it or heard more than that one song. Can someone recommend the best recording? I've listened to the all but my favourite is the New Broadway Recording (although it is 2005) |
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Post by aweillperson on Sept 30, 2022 14:29:44 GMT
I would have to place my vote for the OBC. The revival has some nice moments, the ENO is the most complete (though, as mentioned above, VERY opera-y), but the original, for me, is definitive. The cast is terrific and Mako is stunning as the Reciter. The traditional instruments really make a difference (the intro to "Poems" is a great example) and put it up a step from the other recordings, in my opinion.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 30, 2022 18:13:39 GMT
I wish there had been a recording of the Donmar production.
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Post by theoracle on Mar 21, 2023 10:42:10 GMT
Has anyone heard anything else about this? I'm aware the Tokyo run has already started and it'll be after the Osaka run before we'll see this arrive in London but does anyone have a rough idea when this will begin playing? Marjorie Prime finishes in May so hoping this will start in early June
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Post by alece10 on Mar 21, 2023 11:03:36 GMT
I have no insider knowledge but my guess would be Christmas as the Menier had a reputation for its Christmas musicals.
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Post by abitoftap on Mar 21, 2023 14:49:12 GMT
There's a few videos on line from the theatre: the sitzprobe
and a clip of some scenes:
Big orchestra.
Lots of questions!! Japanese cast? Surtitles? Same staging? Orchestrations?
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Post by alece10 on Mar 21, 2023 17:18:22 GMT
There's a few videos on line from the theatre: the sitzprobe and a clip of some scenes: Big orchestra. Lots of questions!! Japanese cast? Surtitles? Same staging? Orchestrations? Thanks for that. Facinating videos and sounds glorious. One thing for certain, the Menier production ain't going to be like that staging wise or orchestra size as not physically or financially possible. I wonder if they will have a Japanese cast, it's certainly been done before over here. Surprised to see the cast wearing face masks. Must be really difficult to sing either them on. Does Japan still have high covid numbers or are they just very cautious? |
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Post by aweillperson on Mar 30, 2023 9:45:13 GMT
Someone just posted online that they'd just seen the final performance in Tokyo. Apparently they're using the one-act version of the script from CSC.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Mar 30, 2023 10:00:20 GMT
I'm so disappointed. The staging looks glorious but I really wanted my first experience with this show on stage to be with the full original script (or at least all the songs for goodness' sake). It won't put me off seeing it but it's definitely a shame since it gets produced so rarely, who knows when the next production of the original version will be? I believe there's a regional production of the original in the US right now and it's getting very good responses which just begs the question, why do this shortened version when its response was no less lukewarm than the original?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 30, 2023 10:15:50 GMT
Weidman is very much in favour of cutting Tea as its not factual - its the creatives working through their mother son issues, seriously. When Sondheim was alive he also agreed to its cuts.
Weidman also advised Signature theatre production to make Tea very funny or to cut it.
He also advised Signature to cut the Confucius bits as its Chinese and not Japanese.
I am in agreement with him. The man is a genius and knows what he is doing.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 21, 2023 11:31:50 GMT
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Post by originalconceptlive on Apr 21, 2023 22:44:19 GMT
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Post by AddisonMizner on Aug 17, 2023 20:09:49 GMT
Any news on when tickets go on sale for this?
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Post by alece10 on Aug 17, 2023 20:22:56 GMT
Any news on when tickets go on sale for this? [br Strange thing is I've been seeing these posts on Instagram for a couple of weeks now saying tickets are on sale but when you go to the website there is nothing. Think the PR company are a bit premature. |
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