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ekusudei[ Dream of Takarazuka table of contents ]
31 ~*~ The Incident Where I Fell Off the Silver Bridge
I'd like to record an incident that happened about four months after the day I suddenly became defiant, one that can't be erased from my Takarazuka history. We'll call it the Incident Where I Fell Off the Silver Bridge¹.
The Grand Theater and the Tokyo Theater are different in various ways², but the most striking is the shape of the Silver Bridge. In the Grand Theater, the Silver Bridge (otherwise known as the apron stage) is the front part of the orchestra pit, and it has a slight incline but is overall a straight line connecting the stage right hanamichi³ with the stage left hanamichi. However, in Tokyo it connects the right and left hanamichi in a gentle curve. The brightness of the lights is also a bit different, as the spotlight in Tokyo is placed closer and feels more dazzling.
With these conditions in mind, our setting is the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, and it is my first time in Tokyo performing as Flower Troupe's nibante.
The revue show's prologue was finished, and then I remained on stage with Pei-san (Takashio Tomoe) for a duet which we sang together on the Silver Bridge. And when we finished the song in the center of the Silver Bridge, the spotlight cut out as we ran into the wings on opposite sides, and then the next scene began.
To sing while crossing the Silver Bridge with only a few members is something that only the highest-level Takarasienne do. For me, as nibante, this was my first time. I relished with all my heart the feeling of being a star that the scene gave me.
However, no matter what airs I put on while singing, once the lights went out it was a complete change. When the spotlight went off, it was as if I were blinded, and I couldn't see a thing in the world. It was frightening, and I wanted to get down on all fours and crawl off.
In the Grand Theater, when it went dark, light still leaked out from other illumination, but in Tokyo it was pitch black.
Moreover, quick scene changes are a specialty of the Takarazuka Revue, and if I didn't run off stage it would delay the next scene.
To speak plainly, I was in trouble. What should I do...? Then I had a good idea. The members of the orchestra had lights attached to their music stands, and if I kept an eye on them while I ran, I would have an idea of where the curve of the Silver Bridge was.
No other choice! Everyday when the light went out, I looked over at the pit and ran for the break in the stand lights, and made it safely to the wing.
But, then one day. Like always the lights went out and I ran for my life for stage right using the stand lights. However, suddenly I realized that the place I put my foot opened into empty space. In the next instant, I fell with a thump. It was an extraordinarily strange occurrence, but although the curb turned to the right, my left foot slipped into the orchestra pit. Usually, if your right foot slips in the pit, you fall headlong down into the bottom of the pit, but perhaps Heaven was looking out for me, or perhaps I'd been doing enough good deeds, because it was the opposite foot and that saved me from falling all the way. Fortunately my right foot stayed on the Silver Bridge, and I was able to grab hold with both hands.
The thought flew through my mind then, that I would be there like this when the lights came back on, exposing this most undignified clumsiness to the audience. I though that, and I (who was famous for my weak arms) suddenly had the crazy strength of adrenaline! I pulled myself up violently and ran to the wing.
The only injuries were a broken heal on my left shoe, and a large weal on my left thigh. The silver lining on the dark cloud.
Turns out the whole incident occurred because the person who was furthest right in the orchestra pit had been absent, and their light wasn't on.
Don't just take a vacation!
The next day they installed noctoluminescent tape in the corners of the Silver Bridge, and even tiny light bulbs.
It's not building a flag and a stone monument, but....
I haven't heard of another such incident happening after that. Doubtless because they had a sacrifice like me, the other Takarasienne have narrowly escaped death.
But for me, when I see the noctoluminescent tape in the corner of the Silver Bridge in Tokyo and I remember that unpleasant incident, I'm traumatized.
===================
(1) Silver Bridge: a narrow apron stage that separates the orchestra pit from the audience.
(2) This book was published in 1991, and thus refers to the old Grand Theater and the old Tokyo Theater. Both were later rebuilt.
(3) hanamichi: the part along the edge of the stage that extends out into the audience.
31 ~*~ The Incident Where I Fell Off the Silver Bridge
I'd like to record an incident that happened about four months after the day I suddenly became defiant, one that can't be erased from my Takarazuka history. We'll call it the Incident Where I Fell Off the Silver Bridge¹.
The Grand Theater and the Tokyo Theater are different in various ways², but the most striking is the shape of the Silver Bridge. In the Grand Theater, the Silver Bridge (otherwise known as the apron stage) is the front part of the orchestra pit, and it has a slight incline but is overall a straight line connecting the stage right hanamichi³ with the stage left hanamichi. However, in Tokyo it connects the right and left hanamichi in a gentle curve. The brightness of the lights is also a bit different, as the spotlight in Tokyo is placed closer and feels more dazzling.
With these conditions in mind, our setting is the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, and it is my first time in Tokyo performing as Flower Troupe's nibante.
The revue show's prologue was finished, and then I remained on stage with Pei-san (Takashio Tomoe) for a duet which we sang together on the Silver Bridge. And when we finished the song in the center of the Silver Bridge, the spotlight cut out as we ran into the wings on opposite sides, and then the next scene began.
To sing while crossing the Silver Bridge with only a few members is something that only the highest-level Takarasienne do. For me, as nibante, this was my first time. I relished with all my heart the feeling of being a star that the scene gave me.
However, no matter what airs I put on while singing, once the lights went out it was a complete change. When the spotlight went off, it was as if I were blinded, and I couldn't see a thing in the world. It was frightening, and I wanted to get down on all fours and crawl off.
In the Grand Theater, when it went dark, light still leaked out from other illumination, but in Tokyo it was pitch black.
Moreover, quick scene changes are a specialty of the Takarazuka Revue, and if I didn't run off stage it would delay the next scene.
To speak plainly, I was in trouble. What should I do...? Then I had a good idea. The members of the orchestra had lights attached to their music stands, and if I kept an eye on them while I ran, I would have an idea of where the curve of the Silver Bridge was.
No other choice! Everyday when the light went out, I looked over at the pit and ran for the break in the stand lights, and made it safely to the wing.
But, then one day. Like always the lights went out and I ran for my life for stage right using the stand lights. However, suddenly I realized that the place I put my foot opened into empty space. In the next instant, I fell with a thump. It was an extraordinarily strange occurrence, but although the curb turned to the right, my left foot slipped into the orchestra pit. Usually, if your right foot slips in the pit, you fall headlong down into the bottom of the pit, but perhaps Heaven was looking out for me, or perhaps I'd been doing enough good deeds, because it was the opposite foot and that saved me from falling all the way. Fortunately my right foot stayed on the Silver Bridge, and I was able to grab hold with both hands.
The thought flew through my mind then, that I would be there like this when the lights came back on, exposing this most undignified clumsiness to the audience. I though that, and I (who was famous for my weak arms) suddenly had the crazy strength of adrenaline! I pulled myself up violently and ran to the wing.
The only injuries were a broken heal on my left shoe, and a large weal on my left thigh. The silver lining on the dark cloud.
Turns out the whole incident occurred because the person who was furthest right in the orchestra pit had been absent, and their light wasn't on.
Don't just take a vacation!
The next day they installed noctoluminescent tape in the corners of the Silver Bridge, and even tiny light bulbs.
It's not building a flag and a stone monument, but....
I haven't heard of another such incident happening after that. Doubtless because they had a sacrifice like me, the other Takarasienne have narrowly escaped death.
But for me, when I see the noctoluminescent tape in the corner of the Silver Bridge in Tokyo and I remember that unpleasant incident, I'm traumatized.
===================
(1) Silver Bridge: a narrow apron stage that separates the orchestra pit from the audience.
(2) This book was published in 1991, and thus refers to the old Grand Theater and the old Tokyo Theater. Both were later rebuilt.
(3) hanamichi: the part along the edge of the stage that extends out into the audience.
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