King Solomon's Ring / La Mariposa

[ekusudei]

King Solomon's Ring / La Mariposa
Snow Troupe, 2008

Stars: Mizu Natsuki & Shirahane Yuri

[ TakaWiki ] [ Stage Graph ]

I went into this one cautious but full of hope, because I have one of two reactions to Masatsuka-Sensei's shows (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13) ... I either love them to pieces or I find them very dull. However, in general he's my favorite Takarazuka playwright/director. Strangely, the ones that I love are his talky, political ones, so when everyone started talking about how dull the play was, I perked up. And I wasn't disappointed in the least.

But that's jumping ahead, because first is King Solomon's Ring. Ogita Kouichi is another playwright/director that I enjoy. Babylon was the first revue show that I really fell in love with, and Romantica Takarazuka '04 is also beautiful and exotic-feeling. But Solomon... Solomon was like those two revues mixed together on speed.

King Solomon's Ring:

It was a good premise for a revue, but it just felt too rushed, particularly the first half. You didn't have time to even register what was going on on stage before the scene had changed. I tried to convince myself that it was simply cracky like a show like Blue Moon Blue, but it didn't work. I couldn't really get into it. The second half slows down and has some beautiful dance numbers (and Hamako! Hamako singing!), but by that point there was only about ten minutes left of the show. It was a shame.

On the other hand, to be fair, I think this would be a good show for people who go multiple times, particularly the crazy people who see a show 50 times or more during its run. With the absolute chaos on stage, there would always be something new to watch. And I also think it will be less headache-inducing on DVD, when the camera has a fixed point of view and you're not getting overwhelmed by everything. ... It's a weird feeling saying that I think a revue will look better on DVD. XD

Oh, yes, and Misa Noeru in the pimp chair = ♥♥♥

La Mariposa:

Some people have already been subjected to my incoherency on this one, but it bears repeating: La Mariposa was a total Masatsuka-sensei-gasm. Voice-overs! Politics! Otokoyaku in fedoras propping up the sets!

Yes. Yesss... This is Masatsuka-S as I adore him. You might even say he's a comfortable cliche and I should be more picky of how he reuses his themes, but... Hot damn, how am I going to complain about these themes? I also really, really, really wish I'd gotten the subs for Who Is Bad? finished earlier, because of all his shows, I think that's the one that has the strongest resemblance to La Mariposa.

So, why do I enjoy his talky shows so much? Well, for one, I enjoy straight plays nearly as much as I enjoy musicals, so the lack of music doesn't bother me. But more than not minding a lack, it's the things he adds that I enjoy. Even during the most serious of scenes, there are little touches and little bits of dialogue that get a chuckle out of the crowd. And it's generally not the kind of jarring, out-of-place humor that Takarazuka often uses; he blends it in well. So well, in fact, that I think some of it gets lost on people who aren't following the dialogue.

I love his reformed and/or embittered "heroes". I love how they often seem hard, actually have a soft heart, but also have a dark side in there. When Nero (Mizu Natsuki) decides to let loose, he is a wickedly awesome and devious creature after my own heart.♥ Let's hear it for "birthday surprises". *grin*

Shirahane Yuri was giving me serious Nagisa Aki-like adult vibes through the whole show. ♥♥♥♥♥ Yay for an adult top musumeyaku who doesn't have to play it cute! She had a very nice solo too. Sadly, as a character she didn't do a huge amount to advance the plot, but I did enjoy her chemistry with Mizu.♥

I love Mizu and Ayabuki Mao together. I seriously teared up, okay? Especially over the whole: "You're not my subordinate! You're my friend, my only friend." "...You're my only friend too." And the... well. Yeah. That bit. T_T NOT very Takarazuka-ish, but I adored it, even though it broke my heart.

But all that said, who, exactly, was nibante in this show? Because there were moments when I wondered if perhaps Hankyu got a little confused. Hello, Otozuki Kei, I see you are loved. She had a rather large amount of stage time as the rebellious younger brother who hangs out with bad characters like Ayana Oto, inciting students to start hopeless revolutions in Paris. Oh, wait, wrong musical. (Ayana Oto, I'm very sad to report, suffered the most in this revue and show. I spotted her well-placed in most dances behind the stars, so there should be a lot of her on the DVD, but so far as her own role went... Er.)

Much, much love for Ouki Kaname, who employed supernatural slithery and slimy powers in pursuit of her mission.♥ She and Ozuki Tooma had some absolutely fabulous scenes through out the show. I only wish they had had more, but I won't be greedy. And Daigo Seshiru always bracketing the back of the "star otokoyaku" dance numbers, along with Saou Kurama was love. Such curly hair!

*sigh* Mirai Yuuki didn't sing. It broke my heart. LET THE WOMAN SING, HANKYU.

Odd bits that I loved included that long scene in the cafe. There was something so simple about it, but... I just loved it. And I loved Otsuki Sayu as the bartender with her magazine who was not-very-subtly listening in the entire time. Also, she was wearing a knee brace, and it showed under her skirt-shorts whenever she crossed her legs. T_T Poor Nacchan. And I loved that otokoyaku playing the bodyguard, the one that Yumiko smacked around. She was making the most absolutely ridiculous grimace-faces EVER. (I think it was Yuuki Senju, but maybe I'm wrong and it was Saika Ryo.) And Ferrutti's henchman. The crazy one. Was it Onagi Mao or Shiyu Mirei? And Ismayor's servants! Oh, god. Hilarious Ivan (Saou Kurama) and the maid Sheena (Yamashina Ai). I'm glad Shina got a cute role for her last show.

Bits that I think everyone will love include the Revolution. Leather. Dancing. Leather. Smoke. Mizu. Leather. Yes, no more needs to be said. Yes. Former Special Forces-ish assassin-ish Mizu and Yumiko equals much, much, MUCH love.

Ending = LOVE.

So, I think... Solomon might improve on DVD, but I didn't care for it. Mariposa is probably not going to have many fans among the foreign fan base, and will probably be boring if you don't speak Japanese. But it pushed all of my buttons and I simply adored it.♥

As an addendum, Snow Troupe seems to almost have too many big otokoyaku stars floating about at the moment. They'll need to keep doing original Takarazuka shows if they want to give them all a chance to shine....

Comments

[caithion.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, that sucks. They probably changed the email -- Maybe her club split this year? Masaki's did about this time last year, and the email changed along with everything else for the Western Club.

[midoriseppen.livejournal.com]

I assume that's the case. She's been getting so much exposure this year, I wouldn't be surprised if her club's grown enough to split. Just her mixi comm alone has gained over 100 people in a few months.

[caithion.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy about it all<3 She wasn't getting nearly enough exposure outside of Yukigumi before; not in the TCA specials and stuff. <3

[midoriseppen.livejournal.com]

She definitely wasn't. And Piroko was kind of overshadowing her for awhile, but definitely not anymore :D