George Takei in Doyle's PACIFIC OVERTURES

[Kad]

As the Reciter

This is pretty perfect casting, I must say.

[imeldasturn]

I can't really picture him in the role, but I'm sure he's gonna be great

[henrikegerman]

^really?  To me Takei's reflectiveness, sensitivity, elegance, nobility, patience, unparalleled groundedness, star quality and, above all, his perspicacity make him ideal for the Reciter.

[TotallyEffed]

Exciting!!!

[icecreambenjamin]

Ooooo great casting.  I was hoping for either him or Ken Watanabe.

[luvtheEmcee]

I'm so excited. 

[Scarywarhol]

This makes up for Allegiance already. 

[buhbuhbilly]

I'm a little surprised they announced this over a year early.. but cool!

[best12bars]

Great casting, and I'm excited to see what Doyle will do with the production. It was experimental to begin with. I hope they do a little re-imagining ... as long as Takei doesn't have to play the tuba.

[MarkBearSF]

How long are the engagements, typically?  
I'd love to see this in May with Dolly & War Paint.

[EthelMae]

I want my tix now! This is great. Predict this will be a tough ticket since it's limited. Saw the original 17 times. Can't wait for this if this type casting continues!

[indytallguy]

This casting makes me even more excited I went ahead and got CSC membership even as an out-of-towner. I like what Doyle does with Sondheim and think Takei will bring a lot to this.

[qolbinau]

Exciting!!

[Hest882]

I'm really curious to see what John Doyle can do with Pacific Overtures.

[Wee Thomas2]

Please still be playing on Memorial Day weekend

Please still be playing on Memorial Day weekend

Please still be playing on Memorial Day weekend

Please still be playing on Memorial Day weekend

Please still be playing on Memorial Day weekend

[thommg]

I think Mr. Takei will be a wonderful Reciter. He surprised me in Allegience as I did not know how adept he was with being on stage. My problem with this show is that Doyle is directing. I can just imagine everyone wandering around the CSC stage in their walking patterns while trying to connect with each other. He is what makes me question whether I would see this production.

[Wee Thomas2]

We liked his Passion there a few years back. Very stripped down (of course) and very well done.

[luvtheEmcee]

If I remember correctly, the Roundabout production in '04 (?) was pretty stripped down, wasn't it? It seems like a show that just does well when not very elaborate, so I doubt whatever John is going to do with it will be radically upsetting, even to his detractors. 

Also, on some level, almost everything Sondheim writes is about people not connecting with each other. So ok, you may hate the "walking patterns," as a way of showing that, but I do think one of the reasons John is such a great interpreter of Sondheim is that he stages it in interesting/sad/unexpected ways that extend past, say, walking around a diamond.

[henrikegerman]

"It seems like a show that just does well when not very elaborate"

The National Theatre of Tokyo production was spectacular, lavish and nothing short of brilliant.

[luvtheEmcee]

I was not saying that's the only and/or best way to do it. Just that I think it works. You could absolutely go either way. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

When are the tickets on sale!!!!!??????

Love both Takei and Doyle's works and look forward to a Color Purple-ish reimagination of one of the most iconic and important musicals!

[Kad]

The show was intended to have some spectacle, as it was deliberately modeled after kabuki. Kabuki is not known for its sparseness.

Doyle is more Noh than kabuki.

[VintageSnarker]

CSC's website currently just says "To be announced" as far as when tickets will go on sale. I hope it won't be too difficult to get a ticket. I liked Sweeney Todd, I loved The Color Purple, and I enjoyed Peer Gynt so I have no issue with Doyle directing and this is very exciting casting. George Takei was fantastic in Allegiance. I hope CSC is prepared to up their security for him though. The people at the Allegiance stage door were a little frightening.

[luvtheEmcee]

For what it's worth, they haven't even started booking subscribers yet; an e-mail went out a few days ago saying that'd be happening soon. So it'll probably be a bit before non-subscriber tickets go on sale. 

Peer Gynt was weird and I loved it.

[JBroadway]

VintageSnarker said: "I hope CSC is prepared to up their security for him though. The people at the Allegiance stage door were a little frightening."

 

I agree. I went to see him in White Rabbit Red Rabbit, and the whole "stage-door" scene was a mess. In general, I think Off-Broadway theatres need to start getting with the times more when it comes to celebrities. Broadway learned years ago that they needed to put up barricades and have security for big celebrities, but I've yet to see a single Off-Broadway show do the same, despite the fact the crowds that wait for the big stars (though I admit the crowds are never as large as on Broadway). 

But I suppose this is a conversation for a different thread.