Reviews for Danny Gatton - 88 Elmira St.*

The average rating for Danny Gatton - 88 Elmira St.* based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-01-13 00:00:00 William Ohara "A haiku: A gift unearned, and unexpected, often has a hidden price." John Weidman, Pacific Overtures Sondheim's Pacific Overtures ... what a gorgeous show ... Sondheim's Pacific Overtures ... what a problematic show ... So many of the reviewers here mention that reading this was confusing. I understand why they feel this. If you have not seen this show performed, as well as know the music it is indeed extremely confusing. At it's heart, Pacific Overtures is the story of two friends, both caught in the drama of change, as they tell of Japan's painful and harrowing Westernization. While this sounds simple, it is more complex in its perspective and its plot. These two characters lives cross and then flip much the same as the United States and Japan historically did. This is without a doubt, Sondheim's least accessible show, while at the same time, one of his most brilliant. Sondheim & Weidman tell the story from the Japanese perspective using a blend of Kabuki, Noh & musical theatre. Pacific Overtures is told in a series of chronological vignettes that can be confusing at times as characters appear and are killed off quickly; this in turns keeps the audience from becoming emotionally invested in the story. Sondheim & Weidman ask much of their audience, but they deliver much as well. If your taste in musicals runs towards the star driven, Disneyesque, big name Broadway show, Pacific Overtures is not for you. But, if you are open to a show that is both exquisite and challenging, Pacific Overtures will reward you greatly.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-05-10 00:00:00 Shannon Najar This book was the play of the musical Pacific Overtures. Having never seen the musical I did not really enjoy the play. It is about the Japanese becoming aware of the United States coming in for a visit. However, it was against the law for non-Japanese people to walk on their homeland. The leaders select Kayama to go out and order the Americans away. When they refuse, he sets up a "meeting" at a place that is technically not Japanese land, in the hopes that they will thereafter go away. Much to the chagrin of the Japanese, the Americans come back, along with the British, Russians and other country representatives. The play then goes on to show the repercussions of having first allowed the Americans to "open the door" to Japan. This is not a bad book, though trying to read a musical I have not seen left me unfulfilled when I finished the book, which is why I rated it only 2 stars. I feel like I missed things, and did not have a complete understanding as to what was going on during the scenes, and would therefore recommend it only to people who have seen the play.