Pacific Overtures for Melbourne

Stephen Sondheim’s favourite and most ambitious work will have its first fully realised theatrical season in Melbourne in 2014, including an updated libretto from John Weidman, at Theatre Works from February 19.

Pacific Overtures is a contemporary musical whose narrative begins in 1853, with Commodore Perry’s incursion onto Japanese soil. In a fiercely protected world of shoguns, screens, rice, tea, and bows, a humble fisherman and samurai are sent to ‘stop the boats’ and hold back the tide of Western incursion. At stake is a way of life.

“And I thought it was the end of the world. And it was.” – Reciter/Ensemble, Pacific Overtures

A unique fusion of Western and Japanese theatrical tradition, the work explores the clash of cultures and gun-boat diplomacy that eventually tears open an erstwhile secluded civilisation. Its themes of individual identity, cultural belonging, tradition, change, love, politics and war resonate strongly in our current political climate.

Directed by Alister Smith, with musical direction by Robyn Womersley and featuring award-winning designers Eugyeene Teh (set) and Rob Sowinski (lighting), the cast includes Bianca Baykara, Anton Berezin (Reciter), Reece Budin, Emma Clair Ford, Jacqui Hoy, Andrew Kroenert, Adrian Li Donni (Kayama), Noni McCallum, Tim Paige, Nick Simpson-Deeks (Manjiro), Elenor Smith Adams, Sonya Suares and Leighton Young.

Director Alister Smith says, "Pacific Overtures is a fabulous ensemble piece, one that really showcases actors' transformative powers. It is epic, thematically and theatrically – hysterically funny one minute and deeply moving the next as it bounds through 160 odd years of cultural change in 100 minutes of electric theatre.”

Pacific Overtures debuted at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre on in 1976, and ran for 193 performances. Originally directed by Hal Prince, the work received ten Tony nominations, winning two: Best Costume Design (Florence Klotz) and Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson).

Watch This debuted in 2013 with Sondheim and Weidman's Assassins at fortyfivedownstairs.

PACIFIC OVERTURES

By Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman

Presented by Watch This & Manilla Street Productions

Dates:      Wednesday 19 February – Sunday 9 March

Preview:   Wednesday 19 February at 7.30pm

Times:      Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday 5.00pm

Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au or 03 9534 3388

Tickets:    $39 adult; $29 concession; $35 Early Bird & Groups 8+; $49 Gala Opening Night

Venue:      Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St Kilda