PACIFIC OVERTURES {COMPLETE VERSION} (TV)
Summary
This special, never shown on American television, is a presentation of Stephen Sondheim's musical taped for Japanese television during its original 1976 Broadway run at the Winter Garden Theater. Directed by Harold Prince, this Kabuki-style musical about Commodore Matthew Perry's historic 1853 journey to Japan is performed in English with male actors appearing in all of the principal female roles. In the opening number, "The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea," the Reciter and company explain that in their tranquil island empire, nothing has threatened to disturb the serene, untroubled cycle of days for centuries. This idyllic existence is soon endangered, however, when Manjiro, a fisherman sentenced to death for treason, tells of seeing four American warships on their way to their city of Kanagawa. The Japanese lords, dreading the thought of Westerners defiling sacred Japanese soil by landing ashore, promote the minor samurai Kayama to Prefect of Police and charge him with the task of forcing the intruders to leave. He confesses to his wife Tamate his concerns about the fearsome trial ahead of him, and, since he cannot refuse his role in the affair, the inevitability of his actions is explained by the First and Second Observers in "There Is No Other Way." Local residents spot Perry's ships and detail what they consider to be the end of the world in "Four Black Dragons." Kayama's first attempt to repel the Americans fails, so he tries again, this time bringing with him Manjiro dressed as an important lord. Although Perry's crew is impressed with the dignity of their visitor, they still insist that they will land in six days in order to give a letter of introduction from their President to the Shogun. The lords are not happy with this outcome, but Kayama and Manjiro come up with a plan to build a treaty house away from shore so that Japanese soil will not defiled, and to dispense quickly with all formalities and send Perry back home. Meanwhile, the Shogun's mother is concerned about her son's voluntary lack of involvement in the dilemma, and she takes the situation into her own hands. In "Chrysanthemum Tea," she explains the plan she carries out, which is to poison her son. If she eliminates him, she figures that the Americans will leave the area once they find there is no Shogun to greet them. Kayama brings Manjiro home with him to tell Tamate of their successful plan, and on their journey together they compose some verses in "Poems." Tragically, when he gets home, Kayama learns that Tamate has killed herself, assuming that her husband will be a failure in his diplomatic attempt and bring disgrace on the family. The arrival of foreigners is treated positively by the local madam and the residents of her brothel since they see them as potential customers in "Welcome to Kanagawa." Perry's crew disembarks and takes the first step toward introducing trade with Japan. During the meeting in the treaty house, a warrior hides under the floorboards in case any trouble begins, and he is joined by an old man reminiscing about his days as a young boy who hid in a tree to witness the event in "Someone in a Tree." The meeting over, the Americans leave satisfied, and Commodore Perry does the Lion Dance in symbolic triumph. The emperor rejoices in their expulsion and honors all involved, including Manjiro, whom he makes a samurai. The Americans return with a huge appetite for foreign trade, however, and in "Please Hello" are joined by representatives of the British, Dutch, Russian, and French navies in expressing their expectations in this new venture. As time passes, Kayama's assimilation to the ways of the westerners is marked by "A Bowler Hat." In contrast, Manjiro embraces traditional Japanese dress, customs, and attitudes.
In "Pretty Lady," three British sailors inadvertently insult a highborn Japanese maiden and are summarily killed by her father. Some of the Japanese lords are willing to appease Britain with an apology, but the Lords of the South, aided by Manjiro, refuse such conciliatory tactics and murder those who disagree with them. Kayama, learning of Manjiro's treachery, duels with him, but is killed in the process. In the final scene, the emperor decides that in order to unite against outside forces the samurai must not war against each other, so they will no longer carry weapons and will learn useful trades. The emperor further scorns all feudal forms and ancient ways, letting nothing stand in the way of Japan's development. The company closes the show with "Next," an exploration of the expected progress in Japan's future.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: June 9, 1976
- RUNNING TIME: 2:01:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:60208
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music, popular (songs, etc.); Musical revues, comedies, etc.; Theater; Japan - Foreign relations - U S - 19th century - Drama; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Harold Prince (See also: Hal Prince) … Director, For the Broadway stage production
- Stephen Sondheim … Composer, Lyricist
- Troob Daniel … Music by, Dance Music by
- John Weidman … Librettist
- Hugh Wheeler … Writer, Additional material by
- Patricia Birch … Choreographer
- Jonathan Tunick … Music (Misc.), Orchestrations by
- Paul Gemignani … Music (Misc.), Musical directions by
- Mako … Cast, the Reciter, the Shogun, and Jonathan Goble
- Soon-Teck Oh … Cast, Tamate, a Samurai, the Storyteller, and the Swordswman
- Yuki Shimoda … Cast, Abe and the First Councillor
- Sab Shimono … Cast, Manjiro
- Isao Sato … Cast, Kayama
- Alvin Ing … Cast, the Shogun's Mother, the American Admiral, and a merchant
- Ernest Harada … Cast, the Physician, the British Admiral, and the Madam
- James Dybas … Cast, the Second Councillor, the French Admiral, and the Old Man
- Mark Hsu Syers … Cast, a Samurai, the Russian Admiral, the Warrior, the Soothsayer, and the Thief
- Patrick Kinser-Lau … Cast, the Shogun's Companion and the Dutch Admiral
- Ernest Abuba … Cast, a Noble and Adams
- Larry Hama … Cast, Williams
- Jae Woo Lee … Cast, a Sumo Wrestler and the Fisherman
- Freddy Mao … Cast, the Samurai's Daughter and the Third Councillor
- Tom Matsusaka … Cast, the Imperial Priest
- Conrad Yama … Cast, the Japanese Merchant, a Sumo Wrestler, and the Grandmother
- Timm Fujii … Cast, a Noble, a Priest, and the Son
- Haruki Fujimoto … Cast, Commodore Perry
- Freda Foh Shen … Cast, the Shogun's Wife
- Gedde Watanabe … Cast, the Boy and a Priest
- Kenneth S. Bland … Cast
- Joey Ginza … Cast
- Susan Kikuchi … Cast
- Diane Lam … Cast
- Richard Magpiong … Cast
- Tony Marinyo … Cast
- Kevin Maung … Cast
- Kim Miyori … Cast
- Dingo Secretario … Cast
- Ricardo Tobia … Cast