Please, Hello

[PtAltmVansanTarr]

Awesome!

[ritsfata]

I absolutely love this song because each character has such a distinct style in each of their verse and yet it all works together incredibly well.

[2LadyofShalott6]

I used to laugh so hard at "Don't touch the coat!" I remember my dad doing his over the top impression every time we talk about this show. Good memories! :)

[pcbutler1701]

While I have to admit a fondness for Mako overall, the original production did seem overblown. I've seen several more stark ones, including a wonderful "in the round" version in Philadelphia, that had a stronger dramatic impact, and I thought brought more of the simple Japanese theater style into play. I still like the play and music regardless.

[wobblydog]

Why has this never been released on DVD other Sondheim original prodcutions have been released so why not this one?

[Dirkdebruyne]

this show never appealed to me when I listened to the original cast album, but then when I saw it in the Donmar warehouse production in London some years ago it was a revelation ! very much scaled down I suddenly "got" it and have loved it ever since...but I'm sure it was wonderfull in the original production too, maybe it felt too remote and inaccesible(which it definitely isn't!) for a general audience, i don't know...

[sondheimisGAWD]

I played from 8:28 in this song and from 6:21 in Someone in a Tree. How sad is it I understood what everyone was singing?

[SondheimFanatic1]

The Dutch is my favorite!

[DannyHiggs]

I know I'm in the minority, but I don't care for this song. I know I'm supposed to, and I know why I'm supposed to. I understand what he's doing in this song, I see the drama in the music, etc. But I just can't bring myself to like this song. It doesn't thrill me like people say it should--or like songs like "Someone in a Tree" or "Next" do.

[sunnyblossoms]

@DannyHiggs The fact you know what the song means but still are offended/do not like it give you every right to not like it.

[DannyHiggs]

@sunnyblossoms I'm not offended by it. It just doesn't thrill me. My visceral response to the song is "meh." I can't get into it the way I can with other Sondheim songs--especially other songs from this show.

[sacredlunatic]

@DannyHiggs

Try again until you don't fail.

[Marg002]

I was at the opening night of this show. I think it's one of THE most brilliant and audacious of Sondheim's shows. AND the great, great, GREAT designs of Boris Aronson. I saw it repeatedly. Wish the song "Pretty Lady" were here. Or "A Bowler Hat".

[MrDognme]

What did Mark Syers die of?

[StrewthMcGinty1]

The laugh in the audience at 8:46 ;)

[lustertheleopard]

All of the sections of this song are based on the popular music of the various nations during the late 19th- and early 20th- centuries, when European imperialism was at its height: John Philip Sousa for America; Gilbert & Sullivan for England; Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsikov and the like for Russia; and Offenbach for France (specifically the can-can). And the whole piece is a brilliant reversal of the racist "yellowface" tradition in American theater, including the stereotyped grammar.

[MrCaptainA]

Yeah, the American Admiral's part of the song reminds of Sousa's music as well.

[smeggers0329]

Sondheim = Shakespeare

[wickedfeylady]

Yes, he's the Shakespeare of Musicals

[planclops]

I always thought that this song was hilarious. It tickles me to see the samurai totally confused. poor guy. :)

[planclops]

oh and 6:47 hilarious!

[PhantomDawg594]

This just further proves that Stephen Sondheim is undoubtedly one of the all-time greatest composers ever. Everything in this show, and all of his shows for that matter, is just sheer perfection.

Damn I love this number.

Bravo.

[affzee1971]

so much of this show particularly this number reminds me of Gilbert and Sullivan.

[PhantomDawg594]

I can so see that. A lot of the accompaniment to the British segment sounds a lot like the Major-General's Song.

[WillScarlet16]

This number is actually sort of terrifying.

[mtigers1981]

Yes, the number is terrifying because it shows Japan being intimidated by these Western powers into beginning relationships with them.

Yet it is also a very funny number as well.

Who can't resist cracking up at the sight of Lord Abe and the five different admirals doing the can-can?

[meeee46]

Some of the actors remind of bobby lee

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Love this.

And I found out something even MORE interesting about the show: Sondheim deliberately wrote songs (towards the beginning of the show) to have not many Latin-derived words (Japanese doesn't really have any Latin-derived words like English does). As the Western culture begins to pervade Japan, the lyrics become more and more Latin to symbolize the assimilation taking place.

Only Sondheim would think to make the lyrics THAT deep. What a genius.

[nekonuk]

Man, I feel sorry for anyone who gets the job of translating any of his pieces into another language. Well, sorry and jealous. :P Hard work, but would be real fulfilling I bet.

[gramule]

Wow

Thanks for the research you did. Sondheim is a genius, and your research confirms this.

[kenrfc]

@AtLastOnTheGround

WOWIE!

I never even dreamed of realizing that.

Sondheim works on so many levels he's like the Rembrandt or (fill in the name of your favorite artist) of Musical Theatre.

This was the number that first attracterd me to this work. Unfortunately when I finally saw it it was the touring company and this number was lip-synced.

A big disappointment

[mtigers1981]

This is probably one of my favorite songs from this musical...

[bohemiawelcumsyou]

That beard of his reminds me soo much of Daniel Evans' in the revival of SITPWG.

And it's a shame this show is so unknown and underrated, I would love to see more.

[nekonuk]

do you have 'next' by any chance? If you could upload that, I would love you forever. :P

[bobulous1993]

OMG few things

1) LOVE Abe's Laugh at the beginiing. It's AWESOME.

2) THis has to be seriously one of Sondheims greatest songs, the lyrics and music are just unbeatable in terms of cleverness

3) Don't touch the coat. LMAO.

[superman16785]

the french man is by far my favorite section

[TommyBoy249r]

there was a televised broadcast... no way...

[thedon2009]

this is an great show. Amazingly difficult. This is my favorite song in the show. Along with poems and advantages. My high school is working on this show now.

[NGAYDAY]

So wonderful to see the originals in this awesome musical again. It was good that the late Yuki Shimoda (he played Ito in the film, "Auntie Mame", so being in the same show with Sab Shimono, who was the Ito in the Broadway musical "Mame" was quite a thrill to see). And cheers to see pal Alvin Ing again! Bravo!

[mtigers1981]

Just so you know, Alvin Ing and Sab Shimono both returned to this musical in the 2004 Broadway revival. Ing reprised his role as the Shogun's Mother from the original production while also playing the Old Man from the "Someone In A Tree" number, while Shimono, who originally played the major character of the fisherman Manjiro, now graduated to the role of Lord Abe. Neat, huh?

[NGAYDAY]

Neat, yeah. They're both of my longtime friends and I saw both productions - first as Sab's guest, then the latter revival as Alvin's guest. Gedde is also a pal, as well as Freddie Mao, who was exquisite in the number, "PRETTY LADY" (both from original cast, that is).

[mtigers1981]

You sure know some people, then!

Neat!

[mtigers1981]

Also, I would like to complement here the talent of Alvin Ing (the American Admiral) and the men playing the four other admirals. They are very convincing here playing men from different nations. Part of this is due to their makeup and costumes in this number, but the rest is due to their skill as actors--when watching this clip, I often forget that the Western admirals are being played by Asian and Asian American actors. Kudos to all of them!

[midtowner]

I saw this during its tryout in Boston long before the show was legendary, when no one knew what was coming next. This number almost blew the roof off the theatre with the audience holding their glee in, afraid to miss the next great play on words, until the final chorus when the applause just kept building and building while the actors sang over it. Truly a magical night in the theatre! Afterwards a lady was swatting actors with her Playbill at the stage alley, screaming GOOD! GOOD! GOOD!!!

[RalphWiggum08]

"Don't touch the coat..." LOL

Possibly one of the best openings to a second act in modern musical history...a brilliant song by a brilliant composer/lyricist!

[harriter88]

Musically this number is incred,bit it also has to be Sondheims most virtuosic "lyric" display.

[lily535428]

Although, that is NOT you in this video. The gentleman playing the Russian admiral here, sadly, passed away many years ago. RIP, Mark -love you!

[julesvegas]

Thank you for posting. I played the Russian Admiral many many years ago, and this clip brought back some wonderful memories.

[tjfloyd]

Stunning, invaluable clip of one of the greatest songs in the Sondheim canon.

[MatthewwMatthew]

I just cried with joy.

You are truly Sondheim-sent.

[SweeneyHyde]

FANTASTIC SONG. Thank you so so much for posting this!

[tommytimp]

Unbelievable. Maybe the funniest thing he ever wrote. Matadorbell, there's a special place in the Gods for you...

[mdvk]

Wonderful!!! Welcome to Kanagawa would be great to see..Someone in a Tree was wonderful to see too!!

[1622jc]

I can't believe I'm seeing this - just wonderful! What a treasure - thanks so much for posting this gem from the past.

[skaramanga64]

Thank you! It is Wonderful.

Is it meaning something special to you that you posted on that historical day?

[JMGardner]

OMG... thank you so much for posting this! The genius of this cast and Sondheim!

[lapincompris]

Chrysanthemum tea gets my vote too. Great video, thank you so much for posting this. Now... Next !

[coventrystudent]

Also, I do hope you plan on posting more from this wonderful show. If you need help deciding which number to post next, I vote for Chrysanthemum Tea! I saw this show a couple of years ago in Leicester and that song was definitely a highlight. Though, of course, all of the songs are excellent.

[coventrystudent]

OH MY GOD. This is amazing. Thank you so much!!!

[lily535428]

Thank you Thank you! A great number from a great show - looking forward to more postings!

[DougTube69]

Fantastic YouTube addition! Thank you for posting this. I don't know where you found it, but post more!!

[BustopherPhantom]

My vote for the next video to be posted is "Next". Best song in the whole show.