| PACIFIC OVERTURES |
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| Rehearsal Journal Page 2 |
| Tuesday July 31, 2001 WOW! I cannot even describe how excited I am to be in the show! Tonight was the first official start of rehearsal. Everyone who's in the cast was there as well as the production staff. After a quick welcome, Kelley asked us to each introduce ourselves, say where we live and what roles (if we knew them) did we play. I mentioned that I play the merchant, the British Ambassador and a Sumo wrestler -- which the costumers explained to me was due to my height. Really. After introductions, Kelley then proceeded with the design presentations. Kelley started by showing us a scale model of the set in each of its many incarnations (intro, Shogun's court, Emperor's Palace, Kanagawa, Uraga, Kayama's home, the cove etc.) Then we saw sketches with fabric swatches attached of the costumes in the show. Lighting was also briefly described. After all the design elements were presented, we then proceeded with a read-thru and a sing-thru. |
| Wednesday August 1, 2001 Tonight's rehearsal started off with the men wearing tabis (japanese split-toe socks) and learning how to move like japanese kabuki actors. Yuriko taught us how to stand, how to hold your arms and hands, placement of the head and chin, how to kneel, crouch, bow, walk, and even how to glance. We practiced several kata-like sequences with "jo - hah - kyu !" Now it makes more sense to me how all those actors move in all those japanese films I've ever seen, even movies like Godzilla! Next, the Kanagawa girls joined the rest of the cast to again rehearse group musical numbers with Billy and Tony. |
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| Thursday August 2, 2001 Tonight we blocked "Chrysanthemum Tea," one of the scenes in which I play a sumo wrestler/guard. This scene was actually a lot funnier than I thought it would be, especially due to Audrey who "sings to no one's pleasure!" Jackie McSwanson, although she sings the majority of the song, has the unenviable task of singing over and after Audrey! The last 40 minutes of rehearsal was spent rehearsing music for "Please Hello!" I was a little frustrated during this part since I have never sung with the actual accompaniment of this song along with everybody else (my last feeble attempt was during the read-throughs with disastrous consequences!). Thankfully, Billy was confident that I would get it. Eventually. Well, we'll see... |
Again, I wish I could better describe the feeling of the electricity in the air as all these talented cast members come together. Mikio Hirata IS the Reciter personified! Michael Lee (of Broadway's RENT, MISS SAIGON and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR fame) was suitably laconic yet sincere as Manjiro. Lawrence Thoo was a formidable Abe and Hisato Masuyama simply fall-down-on-the-ground-hysterical as anything he played!!! Truly the cast was a sight, sound and force to be reckoned with!!! I even mentioned to Erwin Urbi "I'm almost sorry I'm in the show because I would almost rather see it!" Well, almost! BTW Lawrence Thoo came late as he was in New York for business and had just come back tonight. "I just flew in from New York," he exclaimed with a glint in his eye. "I've been dying to be able to say that...!" |
| Michael Kang-Sik Lee (above) as Simon Zealots in the Recent Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar |