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Pacific Overtures is a musical exploring the forced opening of Japan to the West in the mid-19th century, told from the perspective of the Japanese. The musical uses a Brechtian approach, with actors directly addressing the audience and minimal sets, to comment on the historical and cultural clash.
The musical's title refers to the way that Westerners approached Japan during this time period, treating it as a mysterious and "overture" to a larger potential market in Asia. The musical itself is a series of short scenes that depict the changing landscape of Japan as it is forced to open itself to foreign influence.
The musical's score is a mixture of traditional Japanese music and Western show tunes, and the lyrics are often sung in English with Japanese pronunciations. This creates a unique and dissonant effect that reflects the cultural clash at the heart of the musical.
- Hugh Wheeler
- John Weidman
- Stephen Sondheim
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