Broadway Musical Live 2010
Nov. 16th, 2010 01:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ekusudeiOh, look, I'm skipping ahead because this is even less likely to all stay in my head than other things. ;)
Broadway Musical Live 2010
New National Theater, Tokyo
Nov. 14th
Cast (* = Takarazuka OG)
It was basically two and a half hours of non-stop, amazing singing, with a small fifteen minute intermission in the middle. It wasn't really advertised at all, despite the OGs in the cast, which is kind of unusual (usually they have fliers to former top star's OG things in the Tokyo Theater). I wouldn't have known about it if M hadn't posted about it. Originally it was scheduled for only one performance, but they added a second at 6:30, so I guess it must have sold out fairly quickly. To be quite honest, I think Kanamin basically blew everyone else out of the water, although Ruirui amazed me in being nearly as strong. I fell more than a bit in love with Sakamoto Kenji and Oka Kojiro.
There were only two disappointments. One was that in the tentative program they had posted online, they said someone would sing "Stars" (Les Mis), which I adore, but that got changed. The other I'll get to in its own time.
ACT I
It opened with the entire cast singing On Broadway (Smokey Joe's Cafe). I only had eyes for Mame, who came out in a costume and with her hair done in a way which could only be called Velma. Most of the other female chorus members were in black dresses. Mame was in black leather hot-pants, sparkly socks that went up to mid thigh, and a 20s-inspired kind of top which was usually worn under an open leather jacket. I knew her even before I put up my opera glasses, because of the way she was moving♥ Never change, please, never change.
They then continued in blocks of four songs each, divided by short MCs from a man everyone in the audience seemed to know. A TV news personality, I think, though I've forgotten his name and show. He was a great choice, very good at keeping the interviews moving and quite funny.
Oka Kojiro sang A New Life (Jekyll and Hyde), and he has a very strong musical voice which just filled the auditorium from end to end, so even though I'm not familiar with the musical, I was impressed. Doi Yuko sang The Sound of Music, and at first I was a bit iffy on it (I can't sing a note, but there are types of voices that I like better than others, and while her singing was very good, it didn't have that huge quality to it much of the time) but when she got to the chorus she was rocking it and I changed my mind. Then Shizuki Asato came out and sang Luck Be A Lady (Guys and Dolls), and this was my second disappointment of the night. I don't know who arranged the version they did, but it was horrific. I don't even know how to describe it except that they messed with the tempo among other things, and you couldn't really figure out what was going on half the time, and Zunko seemed pretty zombified and out of it, as well as being drowned out by the band. But then Ayano Kanami came out and sang Time To Say Goodbye in the original Italian and it was stunning. I was this close to tears. Kanamin, you should be somewhere singing opera! Her costumes also blew everyone out of the water. For this she had one of those gorgeous gowns which is tight around the hips and down to the knees, and then flares out in a cascade of ruffles.
The MC was Kanamin and Konishi Ryosei, and they were asked what was the first musical they ever saw was. Kanamin thought for a long moment, then apologized and said she watched musicals from a very young age, so she couldn't tell which was the first, but it was most likely something put on by Shiki. The MC was surprised. "Not Takarazuka?" No, Kanamin replied. She told us that she actually didn't see Takarazuka until about three years before she took the Music School exam.
Second set started with Konishi Ryosei singing Go The Distance (Hercules), which was okay, but I don't know the show and so it didn't leave a huge impression. Then Toi Katsumi sang Love Changes Everything (Aspects of Love), which didn't put me to sleep like I thought it might, and he also had a very nice voice. Next was Shijou Rui singing My Strongest Suit (Aida), another musical I'm not familiar with, but I was impressed with Ruirui (and her dress - Takarazuka for the win in training musumeyaku to dress) and the chorus came back out! This time Mame didn't have on the jacket, and the top of her shirt was, hm, you know what, I'm not going to say. Needless to say, I was a bit distracted from Ruirui. This set ended with a duet by Toi Katsumi and Shizuki Asato, singing Boote In Der Nacht (Elisabeth). It sounded amazing (I love this song, it's slowly become my favorite from Elisabeth), but again Zunko looked really out of it - tired and old (which, while that fits the character of the song, I think was more than that). She wore all-black in nearly every number, which didn't help make her look any less tired. But her voice as Elisabeth was quite strong and I was very impressed.
The MC asked them how it felt singing the song together, and Toi Katsumi was very charming, and said he was honored to have this chance to "date" Zunko. Zunko said it was quite difficult, and her first time singing Elisabeth. The MC made a joke about how she would be changing soon and giving us Der Tod later, and wasn't that quite unusual, to sing both parts in one show? which got a laugh from the audience. The MC continued, saying he heard she never missed a chance to sing Der Letzte Tanz in her concerts, which she agreed to, saying Der Tod was much more comfortable for her.
The next set opened with just the chorus singing Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You ~ Oh What a Night (Jersey Boys). Mame's jacket was back on. They all had little solo bits♥ Then Ishii Kazutaka came out and sang One Song Glory (RENT) in English! The MC explained the plot a bit for the audience before he sang. His pronunciation was actually very, very good. I was hugely impressed. But.... this was not a man comfortable in jeans and leather jacket (and he had on those horrific ugly pointed shoes Japanese men seem to love), he kind of slouched over, which I think was him trying to get into character, but he had the girliest hips I've ever seen on a Japanese man and it was just Roger fail, I'm afraid. Gorgeous voice, though! Then Sakamoto Kenji came out and joined him and they sang What You Own (RENT). This has never been my favorite RENT song, but it's always interesting to hear familiar songs in Japanese and they had nice voices.
They had the next MC, which was mainly about their being in the same company, and teasing Ishii-san because he was completely sweaty while Sakamoto-san was fine, and Sakamoto-san told some story about Ishii-san eating hot noodles and blowing on them to cool them at the same time, and I'm afraid I missed the punch-line, but the audience found it hilarious. Actually, Ishii-san said something fairly hilarious about Sakamoto-san, too, I suppose, though I missed it. And then Sakamoto-san went all stand-up comic duo and replied flatly: "I'm not happy [to hear you say that]." The audience was in stitches.
Then Sakamoto Kenji started the next set. I should explain that he sang Simba for the first three years The Lion King ran in Japan. He sang Nala's Shadowland (The Lion King), and it was amazing the notes he hit! Next was Hosaka Chizu singing Someone To Watch Over Me (Crazy For You), and I think it says something about being a Takarazuka fan for too long that I felt slightly miffed when she came out in knee-high, soft leather boots of the kind otokoyaku favor off-stage, and a corset over a white blouse and was quite rocking the outfit, and all I could think was "impostor!" *laughs* The first act ended with all of the men singing This Is the Moment (Jekyll and Hyde).
ACT II
Started with the chorus singing Seasons of Love (RENT). I really loved all the RENT songs in this show♥ And I loved Mame's singing (in her one line solo).
After this was when they introduced the chorus, I think, though the MC didn;t do more than read off everyone's name, and then they bowed. I think next was the interview of Hosaka Chizu? Yes, yes, it was. Because I was absolutely fascinated by her hair for this number, and thinking, "My.... that's very 70s retro", which made sense after the MC when she started singing I Don't Know How to Love Him (Jesus Christ Super Star). She seemed quite shy, and was doubled-over in embarrassment when the MC suddenly started asking her about a balance ball that she apparently uses to keep herself occupied in the dressing room during long-run shows.
Yes, so the next set opened with I Don't Know How, and decided it's one of those songs that didn't make the linguistic translation very well; not because the lyrics were bad, but because they couldn't fit the melody and rhythm of the original music. Too bad, as Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my guilty pleasures and I love that song. Then was a duet between Konishi Ryosei and Shijo Rui, I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Promises, Promises). Again, I loved the dress but the song didn't leave much of an impression on me other than enjoying it. Then Kanamin sang Our Kind of Love (Beautiful Game), which I didn't really know, but I loves her imperial-waisted, sea-green dress, and of course her voice was once again amazing♥
Next was an MC with Doi Yuko... and I can't remember what it was about, except that at one point it went into a long ramble about the supreme pain of bashing your toes. I think this was because she was wearing sandals for this number and maybe she damaged herself during rehearsals?
She sang Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas), another song that I love♥ Then Konishi Ryosei sang Why God, Why? (Miss Saigon), and I have to confess that I dislike Miss Saigon immensely, so I kind of closed my eyes and drifted off for a bit, despite his nice voice. Then Toi Katsumi sang Bui Doi (Miss Saigon) and I woke up with a jerk, because it was very good. Also, the chorus came out. Then Oka Kojiro and Ayano Kanami sang All I Ask of You (Phantom of the Opera), and it was AMAZING. I have determined that Kanamin must, must, MUST play Christine. Somewhere. Somehow. Her dress was once again gorgeous, this time being a huge full ball gown with either a ton of crinoline or hoops giving it body.
Then Ruirui had her interview, and the MC was all, "So, I hear you were classmates with Ayano Kanami? ... Actually, I hear you were roommates too." (During their honkasei year.) Yes, Ruirui agreed, and they were pretty much inseparable that year. "Well, we asked Ayano-san to tell us some good stories--" "Oh nooo~!" "Apparently, you like alcohol?" "Not true! ... Well, maybe a little. I like drinking, not alcohol." The MC was quite confused, but I think the distinction is pretty obvious? Anyway he flustered poor Ruirui, who was back into her super-girly, slightly-annoying mode. *laughs*
She sang Ich Gehör Nur Mir (Elisabeth), and I will admit that when I first had seen it on the program I had doubted, but now I have seen the light. Holy crap, that woman can sing! When did that happen? She hit all of the notes perfectly. Then my new love Sakamoto Kenji came out and sang Gethsemane (Jesus Christ Superstar) and I was even more smitten than before, and would have given him a standing ovation, except my seat was in a very scary place, and I was terrified of falling off the balcony. Scary, I tell you. And then Oka Kojiro came out and sang If I Can't Love Her (Beauty and the Beast) and again I wanted to leap to my feet because he absolutely filled the entire hall with his voice and it was amazing and I got goosebumps.
Oka Kojiro had his interview, and the MC's first question was how he felt after singing that, and he just slumped down and went: "Whoo." Then he explained that he had never sung it before for an audience and that it is quite a bit more difficult to sing the song for a show he has never done. But he was glad he managed it without a mistake. To which the MC reminded him there was a second show, and he demanded to know what time it was (5:30), and then laughed and said something along the lines of: "No problem! I have an hour!" He was actually quite engaging and funny, and I was quite won over by his personality as well.
Then Shizuki Asato came out again, to sing Der Letzte Tanz (Elisabeth) and I was thinking to myself: "Come on! You're Shizuki Asato! Please don't make me leave thinking only luke-warm things." To start she still seemed really out of it, and I think she even flubbed one of the lines (going too slow and having to skip part of a word to end the phrase on the right note). It just seemed really robotic, and I was kind of sad, like I was seeing an old exotic animal in a zoo cage. It didn't help that her hair was 80s big hair. That was just terrifying. But then about half-way through it was like she woke up at last and she was really growling out the growly bits, and hitting the high bits and it was good. But still not amazing. But the chorus came out for a little bit, and that was Good. And then Ishii Kazutaka came out and sang Tomorrow (Annie), which I think people thought at first was supposed to be a joke, but he had changed the range and was singing it mainly in his normal singing voice, so it wasn't comical. Which is too bad, because Annie is another musical that I really don't care for, and coming on the heels of a disappointing "Last Dance" I started to feel down-right grumpy. Then a duet between Osaka Chizu and Doi Yuko, I Will Never Leave You (Side Show), which was totally cute in that those two ladies had a wonderful warm rainbow aura of friendship around them and so I could no longer feel grumpy.
The last number was the entire cast again, singing Lullaby of Broadway (52nd Street), which was a very nice number to end the show on.
I left having enjoyed it a lot a lot a lot, despite the lack of "Stars" and the sadness over Zunko not blowing me out of the water. Because Kanamin and Ruirui and Sakamoto-san and Oka-san did, and the rest of the cast was quite good, including all of the chorus. :D
Oh, yes, and there were a ton of OGs in the audience, to judge from all their blog posts, but I'm afraid the only person I spotted was a young Hanagumi otokoyaku and I'm still not sure who she was, other than that the Hanagumi fan ladies I was with recognized her and ran over to talk to her. (I spotted her as looking very much like an otokoyaku before they took off, but wasn't 100% sure.)
...I keep remembering things to add. Despite the disappointing performance, I still bought Zunko ♥senjafuda♥. I've never seen an OG selling senjafuda before. They're from Diana. Which reminds me that Wataru sent, like, three enormous bouquets. One to Zunko, one to one of the male actors (though I can't remember now which), and one to .... now I can't remember if it was Kanamin or Ruirui. Oops.
Broadway Musical Live 2010
New National Theater, Tokyo
Nov. 14th
Cast (* = Takarazuka OG)
| Male Singers | Female Singers | Chorus |
| Ishii Kazutaka Oka Kojiro Konishi Ryosei Sakamoto Kenji Toi Katsumi |
Ayano Kanami * Shijo Rui * Shizuki Asato * Doi Yuko Hosaka Chizu |
Ishii Masato Kojima Ryota Tamura Yuichi Yokozawa Kenji Sahane Yuna * Shuto Moemi Hinata San * Honda Ikuyo Makise Kai * Mizuki Mai * Yamada Yumiko |
It was basically two and a half hours of non-stop, amazing singing, with a small fifteen minute intermission in the middle. It wasn't really advertised at all, despite the OGs in the cast, which is kind of unusual (usually they have fliers to former top star's OG things in the Tokyo Theater). I wouldn't have known about it if M hadn't posted about it. Originally it was scheduled for only one performance, but they added a second at 6:30, so I guess it must have sold out fairly quickly. To be quite honest, I think Kanamin basically blew everyone else out of the water, although Ruirui amazed me in being nearly as strong. I fell more than a bit in love with Sakamoto Kenji and Oka Kojiro.
There were only two disappointments. One was that in the tentative program they had posted online, they said someone would sing "Stars" (Les Mis), which I adore, but that got changed. The other I'll get to in its own time.
ACT I
It opened with the entire cast singing On Broadway (Smokey Joe's Cafe). I only had eyes for Mame, who came out in a costume and with her hair done in a way which could only be called Velma. Most of the other female chorus members were in black dresses. Mame was in black leather hot-pants, sparkly socks that went up to mid thigh, and a 20s-inspired kind of top which was usually worn under an open leather jacket. I knew her even before I put up my opera glasses, because of the way she was moving♥ Never change, please, never change.
They then continued in blocks of four songs each, divided by short MCs from a man everyone in the audience seemed to know. A TV news personality, I think, though I've forgotten his name and show. He was a great choice, very good at keeping the interviews moving and quite funny.
Oka Kojiro sang A New Life (Jekyll and Hyde), and he has a very strong musical voice which just filled the auditorium from end to end, so even though I'm not familiar with the musical, I was impressed. Doi Yuko sang The Sound of Music, and at first I was a bit iffy on it (I can't sing a note, but there are types of voices that I like better than others, and while her singing was very good, it didn't have that huge quality to it much of the time) but when she got to the chorus she was rocking it and I changed my mind. Then Shizuki Asato came out and sang Luck Be A Lady (Guys and Dolls), and this was my second disappointment of the night. I don't know who arranged the version they did, but it was horrific. I don't even know how to describe it except that they messed with the tempo among other things, and you couldn't really figure out what was going on half the time, and Zunko seemed pretty zombified and out of it, as well as being drowned out by the band. But then Ayano Kanami came out and sang Time To Say Goodbye in the original Italian and it was stunning. I was this close to tears. Kanamin, you should be somewhere singing opera! Her costumes also blew everyone out of the water. For this she had one of those gorgeous gowns which is tight around the hips and down to the knees, and then flares out in a cascade of ruffles.
The MC was Kanamin and Konishi Ryosei, and they were asked what was the first musical they ever saw was. Kanamin thought for a long moment, then apologized and said she watched musicals from a very young age, so she couldn't tell which was the first, but it was most likely something put on by Shiki. The MC was surprised. "Not Takarazuka?" No, Kanamin replied. She told us that she actually didn't see Takarazuka until about three years before she took the Music School exam.
Second set started with Konishi Ryosei singing Go The Distance (Hercules), which was okay, but I don't know the show and so it didn't leave a huge impression. Then Toi Katsumi sang Love Changes Everything (Aspects of Love), which didn't put me to sleep like I thought it might, and he also had a very nice voice. Next was Shijou Rui singing My Strongest Suit (Aida), another musical I'm not familiar with, but I was impressed with Ruirui (and her dress - Takarazuka for the win in training musumeyaku to dress) and the chorus came back out! This time Mame didn't have on the jacket, and the top of her shirt was, hm, you know what, I'm not going to say. Needless to say, I was a bit distracted from Ruirui. This set ended with a duet by Toi Katsumi and Shizuki Asato, singing Boote In Der Nacht (Elisabeth). It sounded amazing (I love this song, it's slowly become my favorite from Elisabeth), but again Zunko looked really out of it - tired and old (which, while that fits the character of the song, I think was more than that). She wore all-black in nearly every number, which didn't help make her look any less tired. But her voice as Elisabeth was quite strong and I was very impressed.
The MC asked them how it felt singing the song together, and Toi Katsumi was very charming, and said he was honored to have this chance to "date" Zunko. Zunko said it was quite difficult, and her first time singing Elisabeth. The MC made a joke about how she would be changing soon and giving us Der Tod later, and wasn't that quite unusual, to sing both parts in one show? which got a laugh from the audience. The MC continued, saying he heard she never missed a chance to sing Der Letzte Tanz in her concerts, which she agreed to, saying Der Tod was much more comfortable for her.
The next set opened with just the chorus singing Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You ~ Oh What a Night (Jersey Boys). Mame's jacket was back on. They all had little solo bits♥ Then Ishii Kazutaka came out and sang One Song Glory (RENT) in English! The MC explained the plot a bit for the audience before he sang. His pronunciation was actually very, very good. I was hugely impressed. But.... this was not a man comfortable in jeans and leather jacket (and he had on those horrific ugly pointed shoes Japanese men seem to love), he kind of slouched over, which I think was him trying to get into character, but he had the girliest hips I've ever seen on a Japanese man and it was just Roger fail, I'm afraid. Gorgeous voice, though! Then Sakamoto Kenji came out and joined him and they sang What You Own (RENT). This has never been my favorite RENT song, but it's always interesting to hear familiar songs in Japanese and they had nice voices.
They had the next MC, which was mainly about their being in the same company, and teasing Ishii-san because he was completely sweaty while Sakamoto-san was fine, and Sakamoto-san told some story about Ishii-san eating hot noodles and blowing on them to cool them at the same time, and I'm afraid I missed the punch-line, but the audience found it hilarious. Actually, Ishii-san said something fairly hilarious about Sakamoto-san, too, I suppose, though I missed it. And then Sakamoto-san went all stand-up comic duo and replied flatly: "I'm not happy [to hear you say that]." The audience was in stitches.
Then Sakamoto Kenji started the next set. I should explain that he sang Simba for the first three years The Lion King ran in Japan. He sang Nala's Shadowland (The Lion King), and it was amazing the notes he hit! Next was Hosaka Chizu singing Someone To Watch Over Me (Crazy For You), and I think it says something about being a Takarazuka fan for too long that I felt slightly miffed when she came out in knee-high, soft leather boots of the kind otokoyaku favor off-stage, and a corset over a white blouse and was quite rocking the outfit, and all I could think was "impostor!" *laughs* The first act ended with all of the men singing This Is the Moment (Jekyll and Hyde).
ACT II
Started with the chorus singing Seasons of Love (RENT). I really loved all the RENT songs in this show♥ And I loved Mame's singing (in her one line solo).
After this was when they introduced the chorus, I think, though the MC didn;t do more than read off everyone's name, and then they bowed. I think next was the interview of Hosaka Chizu? Yes, yes, it was. Because I was absolutely fascinated by her hair for this number, and thinking, "My.... that's very 70s retro", which made sense after the MC when she started singing I Don't Know How to Love Him (Jesus Christ Super Star). She seemed quite shy, and was doubled-over in embarrassment when the MC suddenly started asking her about a balance ball that she apparently uses to keep herself occupied in the dressing room during long-run shows.
Yes, so the next set opened with I Don't Know How, and decided it's one of those songs that didn't make the linguistic translation very well; not because the lyrics were bad, but because they couldn't fit the melody and rhythm of the original music. Too bad, as Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my guilty pleasures and I love that song. Then was a duet between Konishi Ryosei and Shijo Rui, I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Promises, Promises). Again, I loved the dress but the song didn't leave much of an impression on me other than enjoying it. Then Kanamin sang Our Kind of Love (Beautiful Game), which I didn't really know, but I loves her imperial-waisted, sea-green dress, and of course her voice was once again amazing♥
Next was an MC with Doi Yuko... and I can't remember what it was about, except that at one point it went into a long ramble about the supreme pain of bashing your toes. I think this was because she was wearing sandals for this number and maybe she damaged herself during rehearsals?
She sang Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas), another song that I love♥ Then Konishi Ryosei sang Why God, Why? (Miss Saigon), and I have to confess that I dislike Miss Saigon immensely, so I kind of closed my eyes and drifted off for a bit, despite his nice voice. Then Toi Katsumi sang Bui Doi (Miss Saigon) and I woke up with a jerk, because it was very good. Also, the chorus came out. Then Oka Kojiro and Ayano Kanami sang All I Ask of You (Phantom of the Opera), and it was AMAZING. I have determined that Kanamin must, must, MUST play Christine. Somewhere. Somehow. Her dress was once again gorgeous, this time being a huge full ball gown with either a ton of crinoline or hoops giving it body.
Then Ruirui had her interview, and the MC was all, "So, I hear you were classmates with Ayano Kanami? ... Actually, I hear you were roommates too." (During their honkasei year.) Yes, Ruirui agreed, and they were pretty much inseparable that year. "Well, we asked Ayano-san to tell us some good stories--" "Oh nooo~!" "Apparently, you like alcohol?" "Not true! ... Well, maybe a little. I like drinking, not alcohol." The MC was quite confused, but I think the distinction is pretty obvious? Anyway he flustered poor Ruirui, who was back into her super-girly, slightly-annoying mode. *laughs*
She sang Ich Gehör Nur Mir (Elisabeth), and I will admit that when I first had seen it on the program I had doubted, but now I have seen the light. Holy crap, that woman can sing! When did that happen? She hit all of the notes perfectly. Then my new love Sakamoto Kenji came out and sang Gethsemane (Jesus Christ Superstar) and I was even more smitten than before, and would have given him a standing ovation, except my seat was in a very scary place, and I was terrified of falling off the balcony. Scary, I tell you. And then Oka Kojiro came out and sang If I Can't Love Her (Beauty and the Beast) and again I wanted to leap to my feet because he absolutely filled the entire hall with his voice and it was amazing and I got goosebumps.
Oka Kojiro had his interview, and the MC's first question was how he felt after singing that, and he just slumped down and went: "Whoo." Then he explained that he had never sung it before for an audience and that it is quite a bit more difficult to sing the song for a show he has never done. But he was glad he managed it without a mistake. To which the MC reminded him there was a second show, and he demanded to know what time it was (5:30), and then laughed and said something along the lines of: "No problem! I have an hour!" He was actually quite engaging and funny, and I was quite won over by his personality as well.
Then Shizuki Asato came out again, to sing Der Letzte Tanz (Elisabeth) and I was thinking to myself: "Come on! You're Shizuki Asato! Please don't make me leave thinking only luke-warm things." To start she still seemed really out of it, and I think she even flubbed one of the lines (going too slow and having to skip part of a word to end the phrase on the right note). It just seemed really robotic, and I was kind of sad, like I was seeing an old exotic animal in a zoo cage. It didn't help that her hair was 80s big hair. That was just terrifying. But then about half-way through it was like she woke up at last and she was really growling out the growly bits, and hitting the high bits and it was good. But still not amazing. But the chorus came out for a little bit, and that was Good. And then Ishii Kazutaka came out and sang Tomorrow (Annie), which I think people thought at first was supposed to be a joke, but he had changed the range and was singing it mainly in his normal singing voice, so it wasn't comical. Which is too bad, because Annie is another musical that I really don't care for, and coming on the heels of a disappointing "Last Dance" I started to feel down-right grumpy. Then a duet between Osaka Chizu and Doi Yuko, I Will Never Leave You (Side Show), which was totally cute in that those two ladies had a wonderful warm rainbow aura of friendship around them and so I could no longer feel grumpy.
The last number was the entire cast again, singing Lullaby of Broadway (52nd Street), which was a very nice number to end the show on.
I left having enjoyed it a lot a lot a lot, despite the lack of "Stars" and the sadness over Zunko not blowing me out of the water. Because Kanamin and Ruirui and Sakamoto-san and Oka-san did, and the rest of the cast was quite good, including all of the chorus. :D
Oh, yes, and there were a ton of OGs in the audience, to judge from all their blog posts, but I'm afraid the only person I spotted was a young Hanagumi otokoyaku and I'm still not sure who she was, other than that the Hanagumi fan ladies I was with recognized her and ran over to talk to her. (I spotted her as looking very much like an otokoyaku before they took off, but wasn't 100% sure.)
...I keep remembering things to add. Despite the disappointing performance, I still bought Zunko ♥senjafuda♥. I've never seen an OG selling senjafuda before. They're from Diana. Which reminds me that Wataru sent, like, three enormous bouquets. One to Zunko, one to one of the male actors (though I can't remember now which), and one to .... now I can't remember if it was Kanamin or Ruirui. Oops.
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