[musicaltheatrefan]

When is this coming to Japan and/or any other countries outside of UK/US/Canada. I heard a rumor of a production in Australia? Any rumors or confirmed news?

[whereisskimble?]

Yea I saw it was opening in Australia

[Barberous]

I'd love to see a Japanese cast do 'Message from a Nightingale'

Anyhoo, according to Wikipedia "The first translated production of the musical will open in Japan in 2008 or 2009. An Australian production is rumoured to open in 2008 or 2009, most likely in either Melbourne or Sydney. Early closure of the West End production however has put this in doubt, and no formal announcement has been made."

[mongo460]

Wouldn't the short message from a nightinggale scene be offensive

[Barberous]

Hmm. I'm not sure. I hope I haven't been offensive by suggesting it. I thought the song performed by a Western cast risked being offensive more, because it might risk having your cake and eating it too - "Let's all laugh at our Western culture's weird depiction of Asian cultures... and sneak in a laugh at Asians while we're at it." If actual Asians performed it, for an Asian audience to laugh at, perhaps the joke would more clearly be on Westerners? They could include more on-purpose Western inaccuracies and cliches that only an Asian audience would pick up on. Pseudo-Anna could be more ridiculous. If I were a Japanese performer, I think I'd have heaps of fun in that scene. I suppose it could be a bit like... Gilbert and Sullivan performed by an English cast, for an English audience? That way there wouldn't be any underlying suspicion that all this English-skewering was actually mean-spirited or genuine. (Not that there is anyway, but... I couldn't think of a good analogy.)