Kaze no Nishiki-e / Zorro

[ekusudei]

Kaze no Nishiki-e / Zorro
Snow Troupe, Tokyo Opening Night 2009

Stars: Mizu Natsuki & Shirahane Yuri

[ TakaWiki ] [ Sanspo Stage Graph ]

Kaze no Nishiki

Okay, so, to be honest, this wasn't the kind of Nihonmono revue that really appeals to me. I love the ones where they do the folk dances and folk songs, and there was some of that in here, but it was on the whole too cracky for me. There are some songs that really shouldn't be mutilated like that. *grin* Some things weren't meant to be jazzy, and I include "Soran" and "Sakura" in that category.

That said, I adored the opening sequence, with mischievous detective Tonami out to get poor, defenseless, manly, thief Mizu. <3 And I stared really hard at Sagiri Seina, trying to see how the chemistry was between herself and Yukigumi this first time she performed with them. Nothing felt awkward.

Not so fond of the Tom, sadly, though the choreography between her and Ugly-Mustache-Wearing-Mizu was interesting. I don't know much about Uesugi Kenshin or Takeda Shingen, but I like choreographed dance-battles.<3

Matsumoto-sensei seemed a bit unlucky. She had a big piece of hair caught in her eyelashes during one number, and then nearly fumbled her faux-towel thing during the other (though she made a very graceful save in the end, and didn't miss a beat).

The monk and cat-girl line dance just freaked me out.

Yep. That's all I'm going to say about the revue, for my own safety. ;)

~*~*~

Zorro

If it had ended with Kaze no Nishiki-e, I would have been safe and content with my decision to only see this show once, but.... Aaaagh. Zorro. Zorro. ...Zorro.

Mizu, Mizu, I'm sorry I haven't paid you much attention since you became top star; I don't care much for top stars. But I'm reminded now of why you and Yuuhi were my co-favorites for three years. SO HOT. And dancing. Dancing Mizu is all I really need to make me happy.

And I got it. Yay for mini-revues before and after the musical. I think I may have stopped breathing a few times when Mizu was dancing around in her Zorro outfit on the staircase. Ngh.

So! Plot! (With many warnings that this is based on one viewing, and my head was kind of muddled, because my brain kept repeating: 'Oh my god, oh my god.' I completely missed the Hamako storyline.)

Summary:

In a local watering hole in early 19th century Los Angeles, a disturbance breaks out around Sgt. Garcia (Ozuki Tooma), who demands service and gets a lap-ful of wine from a nervous server. Lolita de la Pulido (Shirahane Yuri) puts an end to Garcia's bullying by bullying him in turn, enraging him until he pulls his sword on her, then leading him on a merry chase and poking him from time to time with a sword stolen off of one of his soldiers. It is only when Colonel Mendosa (Ayabuki Mao), Garcia's superior, arrives and disarms her, telling her young ladies shouldn't play with swords and being in all ways condescending and infuriating, that Garcia's torment ends.

Into this mess arrives Diego de la Vega, son of the mayor of Los Angeles, who has returned after studying abroad in Spain for seven years. Lolita is hugely excited, because she has been waiting for her beloved Diego to return. Mendosa sneers at Diego, though, announcing to everyone that he is the son of an Indian woman (Diego's father married Toypurnia (Yurika Shiho), an Indian woman) and so less than a dog. He gloatingly tells Diego that his father and mother were arrested for treason against Spain, along with all of the Vega servants. A stunned Diego has to put off his happy plans of proposing to Lolita, for his life has been turned inside out.

When he arrives at the Vega estates he finds Bernardo (Otozuki Kei), the young Indian who was raised with him like a brother, and Bernardo's wife Lightning in the Night (Aihara Mika). They have been keeping safe for him a letter from his father, which accuses the Governor General Olivares (Sagiri Seina) of abusing his position and the Indians who live in the area. The letter is incomplete, as Alejandro de la Vega (Asuka Yuu) was arrested mid-way through writing it. The local tribal elder Red Willow (Misa Noeru) arrives, along with Black Elk (Ayana Oto), Brave Buffalo (Saou Kurama), and others, to consult with Diego. Diego decides to adopt the costume of the masked messiah, Zorro, and do what he can to put a stop to the injustices.

Zorro's first appearance is to stop the execution of a local priest, Father Felipe. It appears that Zorro is supernatural, appearing here, and then there, making the soldiers run in circles. The trick, of course, is that both Diego and Bernardo are in costume, and when things look tough, Bernardo appears to lead them away from Diego.

Well, the trick works well, and soon Olivares is ready to put a stop to it by calling in all the might of the troupes under his command. But Mendosa convinces him to use a more subtle plan, because Mendosa is convinced that "Zorro" is one of the Spanish subjects in Los Angeles. So he proposes a large gathering of the rich Spanish, where they can sniff him out. Amused by the idea, Olivares agrees.

Lolita's father Carlos de la Pulido (Misa Noeru) is told to host the gathering, which he only manages with the monetary assistance of young Diego. Everyone arrives.... except Diego! But just when Mendosa thinks that he has found his Zorro, a very different Diego arrives. This Diego is dressed in Pink, with lots of lace, and his dandyish wig is askew. This Diego complains bitterly that he fell off his horse, which is why he was late -- there was no horse-riding necessary in Spain! This Diego also asks Lolita to marry him -- because he wants to live in a proper, big Spanish house and inherit her father's prestige. Lolita, heart-broken, slaps Diego and leaves. A suspicious Mendosa is at last convinced that Diego couldn't possibly be Zorro.

Mendosa wastes no time in finding the furious, hurt Lolita and attempting to force himself on her. Well, Zorro soon appears and puts an end to that. Curious, Lolita tries to follow Zorro to his hiding place, but ends up following Bernardo. Convinced that Bernardo is Zorro, she tries to get him to speak with her. Lightning in the Night appears and says that Bernardo will not speak. He has not spoken a word since he was young and nearly his entire village was killed by the Spanish. His mother died protecting him, and he swore never to speak again, to preserve her memory.

Later, Lolita, worried that no one else is acting, puts on a Zorro costume herself and sneaks into Olivares's office to find incriminating papers. Diego (as Zorro) was doing the same thing, and they have a short fight before both having to hide from Olivares and his ilk. They overhear that Diego's parents are still alive, and imprisoned. Lolita impulsively wants to run and tell Diego, or, barring that, free his parents herself, but "Zorro" finally talks her into being cautious, and promises that he will look into it himself.

Back home, Diego talks to the Indians and finds someone to guide him to where his parents are secretly being held. Before Bernard leaves to follow Diego, Lightning in the Night tells him that she is pregnant with his child. If it's a boy, he tells her to call it "Diego". If a girl, she says they will name it after his mother. Grinning delightedly, he runs after Diego.

At the prison, Diego frees his parents and the servants. But then Mendosa and several of his men appear in ambush. Diego and Mendosa draw their swords and fight, and Diego wins. Then (the Frenchman? French spy? French something?) Jose Dias (Mirai Yuuki) arrives. Er, I can't remember now who tries to shoot Diego, Mendosa or Jose, but Bernardo cries out, "Look out!" and throws himself in front of Diego, taking the bullet. Then Jose shoots Mendosa. Bernardo weeps in Diego's arms, believing now that he has killed his mother's spirit by breaking his vow. Diego soothes him, and he dies.

Later, Diego and his parents are to be executed as traitors. But Lolita and Diego give a speech which turns the crowd, and Garcia and his men also turn on Olivares. Olivares and his wife and sister leave Los Angeles in disgrace, returning to Spain.

Diego proposes properly.<3

Then another finale. Because, yes, we deserve 'em. Yumiko singing love.<3 Line dance love.<3 Otozuki Kei Angsty Indian Dance of Death. Pair dance love!!<3


What I Thought:

Yes please. Again.

All right, in all seriousness. The Indian costumes made me laugh out loud, though I tried to muffle it as best I could so that I wasn't annoying the people on both sides of me. But, I mean... Yes. Thank you, Takarazuka. Please never go PC. The Zorro costume. Ngh. Nnnnnghhhh. And foppish Diego was also an indescribable treat. I wasn't really fond of Mizu's green costume, though. Blech. But Tonami's dresses were absolutely gorgeous.<3

The sets were fun, but nothing crazy-spectacular. Oh! They had a huge problem with the last "Z" curtain (whenever Zorro made an appearance and whisked someone away, it always happened behind an enormous black sheet that fell from above, then disconnected and fell completely for the reveal). One corner didn't release, so it wouldn't fall all the way to the stage. Crew had to come out and yank it down. Yukigumi did a good job of acting around the obstacle, though.

Music was fun! Nothing memorable, nothing that I could hum to you now, but the Indian number was very interesting, and having it all being played on stage by the actresses at one point was an interesting idea. And there was fun adventure stuff that really fit the kind of Sunday movie serial feel that Zorro should have.

And they really hit that feel throughout the entire show! The heroes were good, the villains were bad, the action and humor were well-paced.<3 Entirely, enormously, hugely fun.<3 Bravo, Tani-sensei!

Mizu. Have I mentioned that Mizu was hot? God, she took my breath away. I've missed this intense Mizu. But the foppish scene was also a winner. *snerk* And all her fast-changes in the finale! I think that kind of took my breath away as well. I don't think some of them were humanly possible. Maybe her twin sister was there as "Mizu's Shadow"?

Tonami. I love that she's going out with such a fun, mischievous role. And you could tell she was having a ball with it, too.

Yumiko. Okay, I know some folks are complaining about this role, but I really liked her Mendosa. Those old cowboy serial villains are plain fun, and I loved her confrontations with Mizu. ...Just... the hair choice. Mullet. Ouch.

Hamako. LOVE. Evil Hamako is LOVE.

Misa Noeru. I love this woman too. Seriously. Is there anyone funnier than Misa Noeru?

Ozuki Tooma. Ahahahahaha<3<3<3 Completely incompetent villains seems to be her line these days. I am NOT complaining.

Otozuki Kei. Okay, she can dance. And she's good-looking. *mutter* Okay, she's maybe growing on me. A bit. But I didn't find her death scene nearly as compelling as Yumiko's in "La Mariposa".

Aihara Mika. Typical musumeyaku role backing up her partner. I still don't really have a read on her yet.

Ayana Oto. Got kind of a bigger role than "La Mariposa"? But that headdress. I cannot take anyone seriously with a headdress like that.

Sagiri Seina. Very pretty Spanish lordling. No noticeable awkwardness between her and the rest of the cast, so a million stars to her for managing to jump into the show like she did, practically mid-run. I wasn't overwhelmed by an aura of evilness from her or anything like that, but she did a solid job.

....I... I didn't look for Seshirun. I had a very hard time taking my eyes off of Mizu, I'm afraid. I wasn't doing any crowd-spotting. Er.


So, revue was meh for me, but the musical was a!ma!zing! adventure fun, and I'll count the opening and finale of the musical as my heart's revue. ;)