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Pacific Overtures is the perfect musical for Kirsten and me to bond over. We couldn't stop chattering the whole way home-- me about Sondheim and she about Japan. The production was gorgeous-- some really exciting touches, and chillingt moments, and B.D. Wong should be my beautiful gay husband. The music was exquisite. Right up there with the best of his 70's work (nothing of The Frogs to be heard here) and you can catch themes that show up later in Sweeney Todd and earlier in Company if you listen hard. The song "Chrysanthemum Tea" was one of the cleverest, Sondheimiest things I'd ever heard. Most excitingly, Alan from Sesame Street was in the cast!!! (He's my favourite of what I consider the "new wave" of SS human cast members; my old favourite is Gordon, my new favourite is Alan.)

Really, the only drawbacks were the dismaying lack of character development (I guess I understand what they were trying for, but it doesn't make it the dramatic impact any less flat) and the confused tangle that was the second act. The whole, I dunno what, narrative flow I guess, was pretty terrible. But the staging was stunning...

Why are you in Tavie's head? 10:52 PM | shower me with attention