Soon-Tek Oh, Asian-American theater pioneer and star of 'Pacific Overtures,' dies at 85

[Wayman_Wong]

Soon-Tek Oh, the pioneering Korean-American actor of stage and screen, died April 4 at age 85 after a battle with Alzheimer's.

Oh racked up over 100 movie and TV credits, notably voicing Fa Zhou, the father in ''Mulan'' (1988 ) and ''Mulan 2'' (2004). On the big screen, he co-starred with Roger Moore in ''The Man With the Golden Gun'' (1974). On the small screen, Oh was seen in ''Hawaii Five-O,'' ''East of Eden,'' ''M*A*S*H,''  and many more.

But he made his most lasting impression on the stage: co-founding, with Mako and others, East West Players in L.A. in 1965. It was one of the first Asian-American theater companies, and was a rare showcase for Asian-American playwrights and actors. And Oh played Tamate in the magnificent Broadway cast of ''Pacific Overtures'' (1976), which is on YouTube. Kudos to quite a career! 

http://variety.com/2018/film/news/soon-tek-oh-dead-dies-mulan-father-asian-american-theater-pioneer-1202746825/

[EthelMae]

Thank you for posting this. Mr. Oh gave me great pleasure 17 times in the OBC of Pacific Overtures. May he rest now.

[Wayman_Wong]

I enjoyed reading Craig Zadan's invaluable book ''Sondheim & Co.'' and its revised edition. In it, he dished about the creation of each show, interviewing Sondheim and the principal actors of every one of his major Broadway musicals. Except one: ''Pacific Overtures.'' And though its creators have given their own official version, the Asian-American actors have been seldom quoted anywhere, so we tracked down Mako, Soon-Tek Oh and Sab Shimono for the Sondheim Review in 1998. And we asked them to give their own account of what took place on that historic show.

We used to be able to link to the whole piece online, but that link seems to have been corrupted.  ... Here are excerpts from our exclusive chat with Oh, who not only played Kayama's wife, Tamate, but also a samurai, storyteller and swordsman.

''I was reluctant to take [the role of Tamate] because I felt I was too big to play a lady. For an Asian, I'm big, 5-foot-9, 145 pounds. Besides, I didn't have the training. Then someone from Prince's office called to say that they weren't doing pure Kabuki and to consider Tamate as one of a handful of characters I'd be playing. So I joined the company. ... Being an egoist (laughs), I enjoyed playing the Storyteller (in Act II) because he had a big monologue ... so I had the whole stage to myself. I also incorporated some Noh, neo-Kabuki movements with Mr. Prince's approval.''

''A theater friend of mine came backstage and said, 'You sure got a big credit [in the program] for playing only 15 minutes in the show.' He thought I only played Tamate; he didn't realize I'd played three other characters and this was a friend. It wasn't prejudice. When we played San Francisco and L.A., where Caucasian audiences were used to seeing Asian faces, the critics there singled out more of the individual performances.''

''We were all in awe of [Sondheim], but he was very down-to-earth. You listen to the lyrics of 'Please Hello' and think, 'Wow, this man is a genius!' And his music is so exquisite. ... One doesn't get many opportunities to rub elbows with Sondheim, so I wish I hadn't been so awestruck and had spoken up more. ... I hope we did justice to his work. Even before the first preview, we knew 'Pacific Overtures' was going to be special, and it was.''

If you've never seen ''Pacific Overtures,'' here it is, in all its glory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ546PASgHI

[Someone in a Tree2]

How thrilling to read this recollection of Oh's. I well remember his Act II monologue describing a parable of tigers and samurai that I recall was a warning of the increasing power of the Lords of the South. But what I really remember was the beautiful movement his hands performed with a paper fan to illustrate the story. He was a key component of one of the most unique nights of theater I ever saw.

[CoercedBull]

"Pacific Overtures" is my favorite Sondheim work, so it is a pleasure to listen to "There Is No Other Way" in Oh's honor as I cook dinner.

[Birdwell]

And so wonderful as Lee in East of Eden miniseries.

[Wayman_Wong]

Someone in a Tree2: How fitting that you would share such a lovely memory of Soon-Tek Oh, especially given your signer.

So here's another story he told me: ''I used to be in 'Someone in a Tree.' I was the old man and I think I did about two weeks in Boston, but I asked Hal Prince to be dropped from that song because I played a samurai in the scene right before this. I'd have to run, do an immediate costume change and wig change. ... I was always out of breath. I thought the song suffered for it ... and my subsequent characters, too. Later on, when we got more settled on Broadway, I thought, 'Maybe begging out of 'Someone in a Tree' was a hasty decision because I realized: I'm not singing a word!' '' 

[EthelMae]

Thx, Wayman for that story about Someone in a Tree and Mr. Oh. Never heard it before. That was too bad in the end not to have Mr. Oh sing any songs in the show. But I always see him in my mind listening to There Is No Other Way.

[EthelMae]

As I re-read my post above, I'm thinking that Mr. Oh sang with the cast in the opening number Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea. Not sure he did but I assume he did.

[Someone in a Tree2]

So surprising to read that anyone would willingly opt OUT of singing "Someone in a Tree" in PACIFIC OVERTURE's original Broadway incarnation! As my screen name indicates, when sung correctly, it is perhaps the most moving song in the whole Sondheim pantheon. I chose it for that reason, as well as the following lines which encapsulate my years working on Broadway:

I was younger then.

I was good at climbing trees.

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Someone in a Tree2: From Oh's quote, it's clear that he didn't have any issues with Sondheim's amazing song. And he even expresses his regret at his ''hasty'' decision to bow out of it.

But playing the old man in ''Someone'' would've been his 5th character, and he graciously didn't want that to hurt the song or his subsequent characters in the show. It was purely a matter of stamina. Then, Oh was 43. If he were younger then ... 

Birdwell: Thank you so much for remembering Oh as Lee in the 1981 TV miniseries of ''East of Eden.'' It was probably one of his best roles, which is why I included it, even though he has more than 100 TV and film credits. That show also won two Golden Globes: one for Miniseries, and one for Jane Seymour. But I will always remember the beautiful theme by Lee Holdridge  It also must've been rare for an Asian-American actor to get fourth billing in such a star-studded production. Here are the opening credits ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWIHQcHByuQ&t=1s