Pacific Overtures

John Weidman's original idea, which first came to him in a Harvard lecture hall in 1966, was realized a decade later when director-producer Harold Prince decided to adapt various Japanese theatrical techniques and conventions, and Stephen Sondheim was brought in to write the music.

The cast of "Pacific Overtures" was entirely Asian or Asian-American, a casting commitment that makes "Pacific Overtures" a rare musical to see in performance, which is a shame because of not only its presentation of history but because of its imaginative use of Kabuki. Among the Kabuki traditions adapted to the show were the use of males to play the female roles, the Reciter who comments on the proceedings, stage hands completely clothed in black, and on-stage musicians. Act I ends with a Kabuki lion dance, which provides the image for the album cover.

While it would never be a very popular show, this musical is certainly a fascinating attempt that is of much interest to the Westernization of Japan as it is to devotees of the American stage. Ultimately, Prince has a bigger impact on the show than Sondheim, which takes some doing to be sure. That is why it this book might be an even better way of approaching this show than listening to the CD, although the best approach, of course, is to do both.


an intercultural wonder   October 29, 1999
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Incredible piece of avant garde musical theatre. Best when seen, but great to read and listen to the cd too! Seldom produced, it combines the techniques of Kabuki Theatre with Western Musical Theatre in a way that only Sondheim could conceive.


"Pacific Overtures" is a play for all countries to read.   September 1, 1998
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical is something that all countries around the world should read. Sometimes, though, the lyrics may seem a bit tooooo sophisticated for such a universal play. But, it is probably one of the best books for a musical you could find.