Japanese Black Ships hit Broadway

[Taro Toporific]

"Pacific Overtures": First "Japanese" production on Broadway--Note the fake "gaijin" noses on the nearlyall Chinese cast in New York.

Miyamoto makes Broadway debut
(Kyodo) - Nov 13, 2004 11:13 am---Amon Miyamoto has become the first Japanese producer to make a foray into a Broadway musical with the New York launch of the preview of "Pacific Overtures" Friday night.....more...
Genuinely Ugly Americans, as Viewed by the Japanese
NYTimes: July 11, 2002----The coming of Commodore Perry and his troops to the shores of Japan has always been a showstopper in Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's fable of gunboat diplomacy and cultural transformation. Those who saw the original Broadway production still marvel at the immense paper dragon of a ship created by the fabled designer Boris Aronson. But Mr. Miyamoto and company have devised their own highly original coup d for the occasion, and it, too, is sure to linger in the memory. The ships are seen only as fleeting, ambiguous shadows. But the Americans, whose grotesquely stylized appearances here were inspired by 19th-century Japanese poster art......

[jingai]

I saw this play in Philadelphia last year. The costumes were great and very subtly shifted from traditionally Japanese to western thoughout the performance. It was more of a history lesson than entertainment, though perhaps this was to confuse the American audience as little as possible. I thought the play was unintentionally funny and loved the ending when they unfurled HUGE rising sun flags from each wall. My Korean friend loved that part the most, too

[Mulboyne]

First Night finished - press reviews not yet in but mixed views on the preview preformances on this message board

I had the pleasure of seeing PACIFIC OVERTURES last night, and I was pleasurably fulfilled: The show is nearly 3 hours, and to be honest - it drags minutely. The cast is absolutely wonderful. The music, as always, speaks beautifully. There are a good number of theatrical genius moments, be prepared. B.D.Wong was fabulous...absolutely phenomenal.

Wong is totally miscast as The Reciter - a lightweight who lacks any command of the stage in a role that requires total authority. And no sex appeal, either. This production lacks tostesterone and style and danger...I went this evening, and yes, I left at intermission...The show looks cheap, there are no two ways around that point in fact. The director does not have a clue on what makes the tension in the show work. Remove the tension, and the presentational style, and the entire show falls apart.

I'm afraid I must agree with Jose that this revival is the most lackluster production of 'Pacific Overtures' that I have seen...Bradd Wong is a fine actor, but he is miscast here. The reciter should be a commanding presence on stage, a bit frightening, and slightly mysterious. Wong is none of these. He is not even convincingly Japanese. Just because he is Asian doesn't mean that he's right for the part.

[quote="GovernorSlaton"]The staging/choreography was beautiful, and was distinctly Japanese. Everything was pretty seamless for a preview]

[Mulboyne]