Pacific Overtures NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (193)
See it if you'd like to see a stripped-down production of one of Sondheim's under-performed masterpieces, with excellent performances all-around.
Don't see it if You dislike John Doyle's minimalism and would prefer this piece done in a kabuki style; you dislike seeing the West portrayed negatively.
See it if U WANT 2 C A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION MAKING U LOOK @ JAPAN'S HISTORY THRU A MUSICAL GENIUS'S EYES WITH THE HELP OF THIS CAST'S GREAT TALENT
Don't see it if U DONT LIKE A SIMPLIFIED INGENIOUS STAGE SETTING THAT ENHANCES THE MAGIC OF THIS STORY, MUSIC & LYRICS MAKING 4 A WONDERFUL TIME.
See it if Doyle's minimalism works here. You can see it in the movement. Thankfully, he has an orchestra, which sounds lovely.
Don't see it if I see no reason to trim the show to 90 mins. The performances are uniformly excellent. I wish we could have seen more of these fine actors.
See it if you're a Sondheim fan, like John Doyle's direction or just want to see a great production of a seldom done play
Don't see it if you hate Sondheim
See it if The Sondheim DNA is unmistakable in music and lyrics; remarkable cast finds the humor, drama and beauty in book and score
Don't see it if Those without interest in Sondheim, foreign culture or history will be bored; relative impersonal nature of book reveals its shortcomings
See it if Stephen Sondheim's musical with beautiful music and captivating sets.
Don't see it if you don't like Sondheim, then this is not your kind of musical.
See it if you'd enjoy a show about the West forcing its way into trade with Japan. This is strongest in its funny moments lampooning the West.
Don't see it if you need a lot of bells and whistles. This is slow at times, but worth the journey.
See it if you enjoy history and stories that are told with simplicity and subtlety. The 90 minutes of the show held my interest for every second.
Don't see it if you prefer musicals with big sets and large ensembles.
Critic Reviews (34)
"'Pacific Overtures' was made for Broadway: its huge cast and expansive story line about the opening of Japan need a big stage...Unfortunately, John Doyle has downsized 'Pacific Overtures' in its staging and its music, which reduces it to a highlights performance...In a generally fine cast, Takei’s stately presence as The Reciter stands out. Too bad Doyle’s unfocused production reduces a provocative piece of theater to a stale deconstruction mistaking poverty for intimacy."
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“While Doyle does an admirable job in focusing on the musical's humanity rather than history, he achieves this with draconian edits to the book and physical production. What's left is not unlike a bowl of ramen without the broth—substance devoid of flavor…Visually, the evening also feels trapped by its simplicity...I did find some relief...during the song 'Someone in a Tree'...Far from flashy, it was a simple, suggested representation that was absent from the rest of the evening."
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