Never Say Goodbye

[ekusudei]

Never Say Goodbye
Cosmos Troupe, 2006

Leads: Wao Youka, Hanafusa Mari

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What I Thought:

I'll just preface this with: For one reason or another, Cosmos has always been the one troupe I never really got. I lay most of the blame on having to suffer through Fersen-hen as the first show I ever saw of Soragumi's.

Hm. Let's start with the things I liked. I really was impressed by the voices of the musumeyaku throughout this show. I particularly liked the musumeyaku who played the fortune-teller. That was one of my favorite scenes in the musical. I liked Tani with black hair. But then again, I always like Tani with black hair. Tsukioka Nanao. I like Ryouga Haruhi! Oh, yes, I like Ryouga Haruhi. I like that random otokoyaku subjecting herself to the mid-nineties-Rika-hairdo-of-shame. I liked the faces that otokoyaku who Hana-chan was with always made -- like she was biting into a particularly sour lemon or something. I liked the music. I enjoyed the rousing ensemble "to arms!" type songs. I was very happy to see the chemistry between Wao and Hana-chan was as strong as ever. I liked when Wao started to play charades and... oh, wait, no, that was just Shannon and me, wasn't it?

So....
1) Good god, who thought it was a good idea to have Wao sing in such a high register? I thought it was just me, but I have impartial witnesses who have told me the same thing. Her voice sounds horrible, with the odd exception here and there. It's not her normal singing style at all.
2) Tani, darling, you'll always be my Nathan, but I think your voice caught whatever Wao's had. *winces*
3) I realize this was a Wao and Hana-chan farewell show, and I suspect fans of the two top stars loved all the time they had on stage together, but for a non-fan it made the show drag. And you never really got a chance to invest any emotional attachment with the other characters.
4) I really hate it when Takarazuka does the present/past thing for no good reason. It's just silly.
5) What was with Hana's character in the beginning? She was hysterical over one stupid photograph?

I'll... just stop there. Given my lack of attachment to any of the current Soragumi actresses, I couldn't get over the messy plot and Wao's voice. I fell asleep twice in the first act. I was really sad, because I do enjoy Wao and Hana-chan's acting together, and I really wanted to like their sayonara performance. Particularly with the beautiful poster and all the hype over Wildhorn's music. But, nope, not for me.