Pacific Overtures on Broadway
Dec. 13th, 2004 12:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
riontelСходили сегодня на бродвейское шоу. Называется "Pacific Overtures". Вообще то билеты были подарены маме, на день рождения. Соответственно идти должны были они с папой. Но папа удачно ухитрился простудиться (не знаю как, сосулек на улице вроде еще нет) и билеты на дневное шоу отдали мне.
Для тех, кто как я никогда до этого не слышал об этом мьюзикле:
Pacific Overtures tells the story of Japan's emergence from a small country content in its isolation from the rest of the world to its current position at the the forefront of international politics. The play spans almost 120 years, beginning with Comm. Matthew Perry's initial confrontation with the "Floating Kingdom" in 1853. It chronicles the sacrifices the Japanese people had to make in their social order, customs and dress in order to achieve their current affluence. The style of the musical is based on the ancient form of Japanese theatre known as Kabuki, and unlike previous Broadway musicals which had only attempted to capture the flavor of the East, Stephen Sondheim's score is an accurate recreation of Oriental music.
Pacific Overtures opened at the Winter Garden on January 11, 1976 under the direction of Harold Prince. The production ran for 193 performances and went on to win Tony Awards for "Best Costume Design" and "Best Scenic Design."
I liked the costumes and the decorations, too. Which is more than I can say about the show itself. Действо очень на любителя, причем увлечение Японией даже вредно, заставляет нервно реагировать на некоторые моменты. But, it had its moments. Some of the numbers were quite enjoyable. (My personal favorite was "A Bowler Hat", which showed in parallel two transformations: of a samurai into a three-piece suit bureaucrat and a pro-western fisherman into a samurai.) However, overall I was left exceedingly puzzled. Were they making fun of Japan of the 19th century, the western powers, modern Japan, all of the above or did I miss the point all together? First act was a complete farce that bored us nearly to tears. Second act played as a remake of "The Last Samurai" (except, of course, it's probably the other way around :)) Music was very stylized but as the show went on gradually progressed to a more westernized sound. Same was true for the dancing (whatever there was of it). Swordfights (yeh!) were nice and I can forgive a lot for a good swordfight. Main story was concentrated around 1853, starting with the arrival of Perry and his fleet, and then on till the Meiji restoration. The remaining ~130 years were squeezed into the last 5 minutes and one dance, including: modernization coupled with militarization of the country, WWII, Hiroshima, and modern technological development. Recital of accomplishments (Japanese bought Empire State Building, most popular car in Detroit is Toyota Camry, most popular brand is Sony...) was funny and appropriate, mention of Iraq - not.
The final message as I perceived it: We had been savage and stupid, then we got angry and bitter, but after you bombed us we realized the error of our ways and now we are just like you with better technology. Welcome to Japan.
Для тех, кто как я никогда до этого не слышал об этом мьюзикле:
Pacific Overtures tells the story of Japan's emergence from a small country content in its isolation from the rest of the world to its current position at the the forefront of international politics. The play spans almost 120 years, beginning with Comm. Matthew Perry's initial confrontation with the "Floating Kingdom" in 1853. It chronicles the sacrifices the Japanese people had to make in their social order, customs and dress in order to achieve their current affluence. The style of the musical is based on the ancient form of Japanese theatre known as Kabuki, and unlike previous Broadway musicals which had only attempted to capture the flavor of the East, Stephen Sondheim's score is an accurate recreation of Oriental music.
Pacific Overtures opened at the Winter Garden on January 11, 1976 under the direction of Harold Prince. The production ran for 193 performances and went on to win Tony Awards for "Best Costume Design" and "Best Scenic Design."
I liked the costumes and the decorations, too. Which is more than I can say about the show itself. Действо очень на любителя, причем увлечение Японией даже вредно, заставляет нервно реагировать на некоторые моменты. But, it had its moments. Some of the numbers were quite enjoyable. (My personal favorite was "A Bowler Hat", which showed in parallel two transformations: of a samurai into a three-piece suit bureaucrat and a pro-western fisherman into a samurai.) However, overall I was left exceedingly puzzled. Were they making fun of Japan of the 19th century, the western powers, modern Japan, all of the above or did I miss the point all together? First act was a complete farce that bored us nearly to tears. Second act played as a remake of "The Last Samurai" (except, of course, it's probably the other way around :)) Music was very stylized but as the show went on gradually progressed to a more westernized sound. Same was true for the dancing (whatever there was of it). Swordfights (yeh!) were nice and I can forgive a lot for a good swordfight. Main story was concentrated around 1853, starting with the arrival of Perry and his fleet, and then on till the Meiji restoration. The remaining ~130 years were squeezed into the last 5 minutes and one dance, including: modernization coupled with militarization of the country, WWII, Hiroshima, and modern technological development. Recital of accomplishments (Japanese bought Empire State Building, most popular car in Detroit is Toyota Camry, most popular brand is Sony...) was funny and appropriate, mention of Iraq - not.
The final message as I perceived it: We had been savage and stupid, then we got angry and bitter, but after you bombed us we realized the error of our ways and now we are just like you with better technology. Welcome to Japan.
