Higher Than the Sky of Paris / Fancy Dance

[ekusudei]

Higher Than the Sky of Paris / Fancy Dance
Moon Troupe 2007

Leads: Sena Jun & Ayano Kanami

[ TakaWiki Page ] [ TCA Pictures Shop ] [ ENAK Sumire Style Stage Graph ]

Well. My Moon Troupe. Don't expect an unopinionated review here. ;)

Impressions of PariSora:

So, even before going, I had heard a lot of reviews (in English and Japanese) about how bad this play was. Too much dialogue, not funny enough.... All summed up nicely by "Ueda Shinji wrote it." And yet... and yet...

I didn't expect to like the mini revue in the beginning, since those kinds of "Paris revue" scenes in revue shows and TCA specials are the ones that usually put me to sleep, or I end up fast-forwarding through them. But I had a secret weapon! I had... opera glasses! And I knew how to use them. I played "spot the 'sienne", and felt much, much love for the moonlets in tuxedos and sparkly dresses.

Con: After the mini revue at the beginning, when we move to the play itself, there's a nearly 15-20 minute section where Izumo Aya gives us the history of the World Fair in Paris, and we learn all about how marvelous Julien Jacquet was, with various older Moon Troupe members in mustaches nodding sober agreement. It's dull beyond belief. Who let this go throughout all of rehearsals?

Pro: Throughout that segment, since I didn't have to pay any attention, I was able to pay attention to the bellboys running around in the background. Without knowing it, the first day Lucia and I went was a special day for the fan clubs of many of the young, rising stars. Which means extra fanservice! During the scene where Asako's character finally arrives, Masaki has to load her luggage onto the little trolley, and during that particular day Asako apparently was keeping bowling balls in her hand case, to judge from the faces Masaki was making and how she strained to load it. *g*

Con: The show had no real plot to it beyond "Con artists arrive. Con artists help persuade people to fund mad Eiffel's project. Con artists never actually make it away with the money. Love triangle. Con artists leave." No beginning, no end, and basically over an hour to tell something that could have been told in 20 minutes.

Pro: Such an easy plot meant I could follow the dialogue by ear and focus my attention on my opera glasses and the minor characters who won't likely be showing up much on the DVD. Masaki!

Con: What an insipid character for poor Mihoko.

Pro: Oh, lord. The scenes between Yuuhi and Asako had my sides hurting I was laughing so hard. And I was in love with Kiriyan's wild hair and adorable stuttering.

Con: Misa Noeru's character was rather boring.

Pro: But she had that hilarious scene with Yuuhi, Asako, and the suitcase full of money.

Con: Boring role for Eri too!

Pro: Masaki. In a little bellboy cap. Oh, all right, and Morie and Maggie and Seri looked cute in their little caps too.

Con: No role at all for any of the musumeyaku.

Pro: Ahi cracked me up. Totally. Completely. I love the scene where she comes in, pouts at the sofa, dusts it with her lacy handkerchief, then sits down and starts polishing her rings.

Well, I could go on and on. Anyway, I think the pros and cons balanced out to an all right show. Certainly, there are some scenes that were priceless.

Impressions of Fancy Dance:

Oh. My heart stopped. I dimly remember Lucia reminding me to beathe. From the opening scene, all the way to the end, this was a wonderful revue show. I'm in love with the music. Yes, I actually bought the revue soundtrack, just for the music. It was brilliant Tsukigumi from beginning to end.

Fancy Dance had suits and fedoras. It was brilliant, 100% Tsukigumi love. I Wanna Dance had some very hot black outfits and I loved Yuuhi to bits. I also decided Sonoka was definitely worthy of my troupe. She can dance! I was very sad not to see Masaki in the background here until...

Tango Noir. Oh. Firstly, Eri doing the singing/voice over bit as the puppet master. Then Kiriyan, Ahi, and Kanamin as the Petrushka characters farther back on stage, while Masaki, Maggie, and Remi were up front in the doll costumes and they shadowed each others moves. I suddenly see why they make a huge fuss whenever Daren Lee does choreogaphy. It was brilliant. Masaki was so lovely. And Kiriyan... Dear god. If you don't know it yet, she really is a genius.

Last Dance had the required gambling scene. Love. Even love for Asako getting beat up. Particular love for Masaki dancing with Takigawa and shoving Asako. Dance With Me. *hearts* Mihoko reveals she has an amazing voice, if allowed to sing in her actual range. And, okay, it's only one note, since for most of the song she's singing as an old lady, but.... She rivals Izumo for a second there. Her singing has vastly improved since R&J '99. And there was! There was dancing, on a fog covered rooftop through a letter sign. You know, one of those typical Hollywood type "dancin' on the roof" type dances? The first time I saw it I was holding my breath, because the sign is rotating on stage as they're dancing around it and through it, and it's a pretty amazing piece of timing. (Later, mizukusa told us that when she saw it, Asako actually bashed her head on the sign while ducking through it. Ouch.)

Purple Haze was... lovely. Very lovely. If Asako wants to play the mean, mad, spoiled kingling who strangles all his harem girls, well, fine by me. So long as the music and lyrics is that creepy/beautiful.

The finale came too soon. Much too soon. This is a revue show I will happily watch over and over and over again. I can't wait for the DVD!

Iri/Demachi:

Ohhh, someone loves me. I was worried nearly sick that Masaki's fanclub wouldn't let me join, but the staff didn't even bat an eye, let me hand them cash when I explained that I would have trouble with bank transfers, and were in all ways the sweetest things ever. And, as I mentioned, that first day was a special day for the fanclub. Masaki gave all the members who came to watch the cutest little tin and a packet of jelly beans. Mine! All mine! Mwahahaha. She seemed rather surprised to have me pop up in the midst of her fanclub, but obligingly handed one over to me as well. Oh, She's so adorable! *hearts*

And her fanclub was positioned such that Ruu's club was to our right, and Maggie (good god, someone feed that girl. She was walking on two sticks) and Morie's just over to our left. And Kiriyan's a few down to our right. So I got to see all of those lovely ladies close up several times over the next couple of days. I saw Sonoka walk by twice. Poor thing is having an acne problem at the moment. XD I never got a clear view of Asako, because her fanclub is much further up the line, by the theater doors, and she would always hop into her car (with tinted windows) and zoom past us. Yuuhi as well, though I could make her out through the windows of her car. I wondered why Kiriyan's was so much further away (past all the minor clubs), but I suppose it's because there wasn't room for hers and Asako's and Yuuhi's all up by the theater doors at the same time? Oh, and I saw Koshino Ryuu walk by. Kakkoii! And Lucia tells me that Ai-chan left in jeans one day! Scandalous!

Oh, it was so much fun. And very different from the Takarazuka system of walking the stars along. I rather liked it, though, because fan clubs often got to stay a little longer and watch the other 'siennes come out. And the whole popping up and down makes more sense when there is actually a crowd behind you wanting to see the stars, rather than in Takarazuka, where the crowd has more of a clear view of the stage doors. Yes, yes, know it's a respect thing too. But it was rather cute, because we'd be watching Asako and Yuuhi's fanclubs for our cue as we couldn't see the stage doors from where we were. Several of the other fan club members remarked that we seemed to be doing the wave, since there was always a delay in the crouching further along from the stage doors.

And! *squee* I snuck in one extra morning of irimachi, and it was so worth it! Masaki looked right at me when I gave her my fanletter and told me to have a safe trip back to the US. *squee squee squee* I'm so sad I won't be able to see her live in Osaka Samurai. But I can see now how being a fanclub member is totally addicting. I suspect I may have to make a trip to see her first Bow Hall lead, even if I can't make it to anything else. And the 100th Anniversary is getting closer!

Comments

[kyanited.livejournal.com]

(*_*) ... (♥_♥)


>> My Moon Troupe. Don't expect an unopinionated revue here.

HAHA! ♥


THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for writing this long-assed post and letting us who to have stay at home have a small part of it :) [The pictures were a lovely addition, too :D]

I wonder what they think when they spot Americans/Europeans in their fanclubs... Maybe they are like trophies? XD Will the jelly beans ever get eaten?

[caithion.livejournal.com]

:D ♥

Oh, it was crazy. Two years ago, if anyone told me I would be taking a return trip to Japan mainly for the sake of Zuka, I would have considered them crazy. And yet, here I am... totally corrupted. ;)

I have no idea. I suspect we're a bit of a nuisance. Maybe like untrained puppies? Oh, no, those beans are being saved for dark times.

[cherrytop.livejournal.com]

Thank you, reading this is helping me put my finger on some of my own opinions about this show. The show I had seen prior to this was "Sketches From the Life of Sakamoto Ryoma", and sadly compared to that "Paris" actually had a lot of songs. But having just gotten the DVD, I was amazed to realize exactly how many times each song was reprised.

I'm 100% with you about the long dialogue scene in the beginning. My Japanese is only so-so so I couldn't tell if I was just missing something, but it looks like I wasn't.

Personally, I think the "Bon Bon Bon" song that Yuuhi, Asa, and Kiriyan sing is priceless. There's just something about that much sexiness on the stage at once.

Out of curiosity (since you seem to also like Tsukigumi), what would you recommend out of Sena Jun-era Tsukigumi shows? I've already seen "Elisabeth" and "Ernest in Love" and am looking for other things to watch.

[caithion.livejournal.com]

Really? I didn't remember "Ryoma" being so songless... I guess because the dialogue was accompanied by more action, maybe? Hm...

"Bon Bon Bon" was a great song. *grins*

Well, I think you've seen the two fan favorites, then. I'm personally more of a Rika & Mami-Era fan, if only because the shows they've given poor Asa and Kanamin haven't been the best. This is my Sena Jun tag and has reviews of all of her shows that I've seen. Personally, I liked "Roma", though a lot of fans didn't. I liked "Akanesasu", which I hadn't been expecting. Oh, if you're an Asako fan, I bet you'd like her concert "SENA!".

[cherrytop.livejournal.com]

Poor Asa...I hope she's not getting too much criticism for the last couple of shows not being great. I'd like to see her stick around for a while longer.

Thanks for the link to the tag. I think I'll check out either "Roma" or "Seal of Roses" next. I also think I might start going into the shows with Asa as Haruno Sumire's second.

In any case, MOON TROUPE LOVE!!!!! (enough so that it has to be in all caps ^_^)

[caithion.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I haven't heard any grumbling from anyone except the foreign fans. But I haven't been haunting the Japanese message boards so much lately since the English-speaking community has grown so big. XD

I do recommend "Seal of Roses"! But Rika is my favorite Takarasienne of all time, so I'm a little biased. *grins* You'll have to tell me whatchs think of them.

*joins your cheer* MOON TROUPE LOVE!!!!!!

[violet-tango.livejournal.com]

Well. My Moon Troupe. Don't expect an unopinionated revue here. ;)
Was that meant to be a 'review' instead of a 'revue'? XD

Hm... yes, I blamed Ueda-sensei for a lot about this play, but to be true, I first watched the play and than saw that he wrote it. I use to like Ueda, because I'm a fan of bother Berubara and Kazetomo, and so that wouldn't have been a reason for me to dislike this play.

I hoped to be able to change my opinion on the play after going to see it the second time, but as you must have noticed, I wasn't able to.

But the dvd did!
It's still not one of the best plays, but the cutting work is so good, that you are focussed on the more important parts on stage, and whoever filmed that, I have to worship him/her for being able so get so wonderful tapes of Asako/Yuuhi.
Same goes for the revue. I was afraid that the Petrushka scene would be cut in a main stage centered way, but no :) Oh, and keep your eyes open for Masao, I think she was there earlier...
I have to admit, I only had eyes for Maggie and I love the fact that she nearly always stands next to/behind Asako, Kiriyan or Yuuhi (and I think so does Masao) and because of that there is really a lot of her on the dvds (spotted her in both the show and the revue after less than 3 minutes <3... baby love is still the best)

[ekusudei.livejournal.com]

You caught me! I am always having to retype that word in this journal. I have a one-track mind here. XD

I'm very glad to hear that about the DVD! I really wish it had come out a few days earlier, because I'm back in save mode now. But maybe I'll be able to afford it next month. :D

I did notice Masao was behind Asako and her two seconds quite a lot, so I have hope for the DVD too. ;)

[jess-in-japan.livejournal.com]

I unfortunately did not read your review before buying this show on dvd!

When I saw the mini-revue in the beginning, I thought "great, they don't even have enough play to fill one act." Ah! The lack of character development! The lack of real plot development! The lack of a resolution!

I want to like Asako... I mean, I really like Asako in TCA Special 2007, and she really glows when she is chatting with Osa. However, she plays this character Jack (Ernest in Love), and Bill (Me and My Girl) exactly the same way. It is probably just her way of speaking in these roles... but still, I would like to see another side of Asako in a show.

Fancy Dance is very classy (not a bad costume in the show, which is rare)... and I love watching Asako dance. Very disappointed that Purple Haze does not have the vocals, which makes me very jealous that you got to see it in person =(

I am debating whether or not I should sell this to Taka An and buy Magician's Misfortunes... I will see how my finances are, maybe I can just have both XD

[caithion.livejournal.com]

It wasn't much fun as a show, even live. Lucia actually fell asleep in the theater. XD But the revue! I love the revue. <3 If you buy the soundtrack, it actually has most of the cut music. Anyway, I have hope for the Sky Stage broadcast this month, since they tend to put back in the things they've cut out for the commercial releases. :D

But, anyway, if I had to chose one of the two, I'd say buy MAHOROBA/MM. But that's just me....