Pacific Overtures NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (193)
See it if You love the Asian aesthetic, Sondheim music and lyrics, inventive staging, and performance art/dance woven in with your theater.
Don't see it if Sondheim rubs you the wrong way and you prefer traditional staging and brisk pacing. Read more
See it if You want great singing combined w/great lyrics. You want to see a story of Japan from an Asian perspective.
Don't see it if You hate Sondheim. You love the original Pacific Overtures & don't want any changes.
See it if you're a Sondheim nerd or a fan of John Doyle's Whole Deal (I am both).
Don't see it if you're a big Chrysanthemum Tea fan, as it was sadly cut; you want to hear George Takei sing, because dude was totally lip-synching. Read more
See it if -you are a Sondhead - goes without saying. -you want a Japanese perspective on "globalization" -you want a musical history lesson
Don't see it if -you aren't willing to try a minimalistic production of a large show -you don't care about Japan or international relations Read more
See it if you want to see a deeper interpretation of Pacific Overtures. Beautifully staged.
Don't see it if you are a Sondheim "purist". A shame "Chrysanthemum Tea" was cut.
See it if Sondheim fan, John Doyle fan, seeker of creative theater choices
Don't see it if want your mother's musical theater
See it if it is not produced often, so grab the chance if you have any interest in musical theater - or history, for that matter. Great performances.
Don't see it if you dislike Sondheim. This is not the gorgeous, opulent production this work deserves; the staging and the modern dress don't always work.
See it if you want to see a Sondheim musical at its best, striped down to where the words carry the show. This all-Asian cast is a delight to watch.
Don't see it if you are looking for fancy entrapments because there are none. The set is simple and bare. Costumes are limited to a few accents.
Critic Reviews (34)
“A chance to see a terrific ensemble of actors taken from the New York stage's severely underutilized pool of Asian-American talent…There's no denying the graceful intimacy of the CSC mounting…The whittled-down text may dilute the musical's impact somewhat, but the wit, intelligence and incisive exploration of history's issues are still evident. Rarely is a musical this non-traditional and daring also executed so well, and the CSC company is an expert and engaging group.”
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“Doyle's new production decisively makes the argument for a clear, direct approach…At times it seems like a series of set pieces. But what stunning set pieces!…‘Pacific Overtures’ also contains what are arguably two of the most brilliant sequences in any Sondheim musical...Everyone in Doyle's vocally gifted cast blends into a seamless ensemble…Delicate and tough-minded, a tensile thing of beauty that may at last find a place among Sondheim's major works.”
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"The elusive heart of the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical 'Pacific Overtures' remains missing in action in director John Doyle's truncated Classic Stage Company production...'Pacific's' strengths are, unsurprisingly, musical ones...The intimacy of the setting heightens our awareness of an overreliance on narrative exposition to tell its story...If you can navigate your way past the problems, you will find there is much to enjoy. The cast is uniformly excellent."
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"For theatergoers willing to indeed put their imaginations to work, this streamlined production will be a rewarding experience...Why shouldn't everyone approach this production with an open mind if Mr. Sondheim approved the cuts and changes needed to whittle his show into a single act...Mr. Doyle's less is more approach is a refreshing change...There's no denying that this is a musically rich, intriguing experience, well worth a trip to the Classic Stage."
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"Doyle has maintained this minimalist approach, although he has Jonathan Tunick’s gorgeous orchestrations of Sondheim’s score played by an eight-instrument ensemble...With this spare, stripped-down approach, Doyle has illuminated the relevance of 'Pacific Overtures' 'We live in a time when theatre has a job to do that it hasn’t been doing for a while, and that is to ask the political questions,' says Doyle. His bold production has the vision and clarity to do just that."
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"The tone of the play is somewhat pedantic...The resulting evening is a little dull, and the unfamiliar score, while capable of rendering up some gems, is not as satisfying as many other Sondheim compositions...The entire acting ensemble is flat-out excellent, individually possessed of superb musical and acting skills and collectively capable of playing like a tight-knit team...George Takei's droll, assured presence is alone worth the price of admission."
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"George Takei majestically guides us through this unique moment in history, one that is filled with fascinating details and interesting tidbits. But does it make a compelling musical? One wouldn’t think so. But there is an elegance to the storytelling, a lovely culturally pointed design and directing point of view, some beautiful singing, and one can’t deny the Sondheim style...Musically, this piece is lovely and moving and the story being told is a fascinating slice of history."
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"There are a few cherished musical moments, but most of the score requires a pedagogical undertaking. Doyle does little to elevate or clarify the complex script, instead, stripping it down to an ensemble of actors playing multiple roles...Doyle’s staging, heavy on processionals and other stylized movements, traps the acting company in choreography that squelches any instinct for emotion, which is a shame given the immense onstage talent."
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