The Two Noble Kinsmen (Bow Hall)
Mar. 31st, 2009 01:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ekusudeiI can't quite believe how quickly Kinsmen finished. Sunday was raku... I wish I could have been there. I met an old fan club friend (who actually is supporting Yuzurun now) on Sunday in Tokyo, and she looked at me in a puzzled way and asked me, "Isn't it raku?" ... What can you say to that? For the hardcore enthusiasts, things are pretty black and white. Heh, my other club friends keep telling me there must be eikaiwa jobs in Osaka; why am I in Gunma of all barbaric places. And when I try to explain that I like my employers, they wave it away as inconsequential. XD
Anyway... much delayed:
The Two Noble Kinsmen
Moon Troupe Bow Hall, 2009
Leads: Ryuu Masaki & Asumi Rio, Hazakura Shizuku
[ TakaWiki ] [ Asahi Review w/ Photos ]
Koyanagi-sensei's adaption is an interesting one. (I'll assume anyone reading this has read at least a short summary of the original Fletcher/Shakespeare play. If you haven't, google it!) The first act follows the original Palamon/Arcite/Emilia storyline pretty closely, and the Palamon/Jailer's Daughter storyline is not changed much either. I think the biggest change is with the Schoolmaster and countrymen/maids and their Morris dancing, which has turned into a playwright and players, with the Wooer getting more of a personality as being a member of the players as well. In the second act, the show deviates quite a lot more, though it wraps things up to a similar conclusion.
I was surprised. Masaki had the voice-over intro at the beginning, and didn't share it with Mirio at all, like I've heard done in other double-lead Bows. In fact, in some ways it really didn't feel like a double-lead. Not that *I'm* complaining! <3
Summary:
Act One
The Takarazuka version opens with a really great choreographed battle scene. Nearly the entire cast is present (musumeyaku as well, in cute short wigs), wrapped in long gray cloaks with the hoods up to hide their faces, lying as though dead on the floor. They rise one by one, wailing in the dark. Then they start hacking away violently at each other, and their hoods fall back as they do. Palamon (Ryuu Masaki) manages to wrest away someone's sword at one point and is holding off her opponents with two swords and long hair flying. Guaranteed to warm a fan's heart. One by one, everyone falls dead again, until they are back exactly where they started, with only Palamon and Arcite (Asumi Rio) left standing. Palamon kneels to lift up a handful of dirt and let it sift through his fingers, staring at the devastation around them, but Arcite is more prosaic. "It's over; we've protected the city." They limp off the battle field together.
Next scene is the marriage of Theseus (Ban Akira in a horrible wig) and Hippolyta (Amano Hotaru, rockin' the regality), which is interrupted by the abrupt entrance of the Three Queens, whose husbands have been killed and left to rot by Creon. They beg Theseus to attack Thebes and defeat Creon, so that they can recover their husbands bodies. Kagetsu Miyako, Remi Kurea, and Kotone Kazuha look awesome as the Three Queens, and make a wonderful, wailing Greek chorus, always moving, never still, weeping and wailing and begging in a pathetic and really entertaining way, while the baby otokoyaku playing courtiers in the background attempted to look sympathetic/horrified, and looked more like they had indigestion (they were terribly cute). Emilia (Hazakura Shizuku), Hippolyta's younger sister, arrives and is instantly won over, and in turn convinces her sister to beg Theseus on the Queens' behalf. So the poor guy, surrounded and hounded by weeping women clinging to his hands on all sides, has to give up on his wedding and march off to war. He leaves his new wife and Athens.
Back to Thebes, where Palamon has decided to leave the city, disgusted by his uncle Creon. He has almost convinced Arcite to join him in seeing the world, when a messenger arrives, telling them Thebes is under attack by Theseus, and their uncle Creon demands their presence to help defend the city. Well, Palamon hates his uncle, but he loves his city, so he announces his intention to defend it one last time, and Arcite joins him.
Another choreographed battle scene, while Theseus and his trusted friend Pirithous (Isono Chihiro) and the Three Queens look on.
Theseus is triumphant, Creon defeated, and the cousins are imprisoned in a jail in Athens. In the courtyard of that jail, rehearsals are underway for the May Day celebration. The Playwright (Ayao June)is watching over his production like an anxious hen. The countrymen and maids dance, and the stars of the show are the Wooer (Kouzuki Ruu) and the Jailer's Daughter (Ranno Hana). The Jailer's Daughter isn't paying much attention to the choreography, or to her wooer, however... her mind is full of the two noble kinsmen from Thebes in her father's jail. The poor Wooer chases her all around, encouraged by the Jailer (Ken Ruisu) trying to give her a rose, but she just knocks it aside in disgust and leaves, sighing over Palamon.
Inside the jail cell, Palamon is fretting and angry, while Arcite tries to get him to cool down and just accept their lot, content that they're together. They get into a heated argument, but then laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. They are midway through talking about what great friends they are when Palamon's attention is caught by Emilia entering the garden. He is immediately passionately in love with her. Arcite, amused, comes to see what his cousin is spouting poetry about and falls in love with her as well.
Emilia is talking to her lady-in-waiting about her sister, and love, and how being married has tamed her sister. She leaves, and the two cousins immediately get into a fight over who has more right to love her, with Palamon complaining bitterly that he saw her first and loves her best, and Arcite is a traitor, while Arcite says that his heart is his own, and he can't help but be in love with her. The Jailer arrives, interrupting their fight, with the announcement that someone has pleaded Arcite's case with the king, and he is to be released from prison, but banished from Athens. The cousins part with bitter words.
Alone in the woods outside the city, Arcite is devastated, his soul dark. He meets a wandering knight (Shimon Yuriya), and the knight asks him if he is also headed for the tournament, where the winner will be made companion to the princess, Emilia. Arcite asks the knight's name, then in his turn, cries that he abandoned his name in his jail cell, and steals the knight's sword, stabbing him in the leg and back with it. The shocked knight crumples, and the stonily resolved Arcite leaves for the tournament.
A couple of days later the countrymen are in the forest, trying to find their leading lady and man (the Jailer's Daughter and her Wooer), who haven't been showing up to rehearsals. Instead they stumble upon the knight. They wake him up, then shock him more fully awake with a shot of Snog's (Chinami Karen) ever-present wine flask. The knight tells them he was attacked by a thief, but then discovers that he still has his full coin purse... all that he's missing is his sword. He immediately sends Snog off to get him a new sword. However, when the countrymen hear that he's planning to go to the tournament they shuffle about for a minute, and then break the bad news: The tournament is over. A wandering knight named Xxxx has won. (Sorry, I forget her name.) "But... I'm Xxxxx," the poor knight complains. In the midst of all the confusion, Bottom (Takachi Ao) has a brilliant idea -- the knight can be their new leading man. Quince (Hibiki Reona) protests that this is ridiculous! Although he may be the right height, and the right countenance, and the right kind of voice, and be able to handle a sword.... *laughs* Quince convinces himself. They carry off the poor, unsuspecting knight.
Meanwhile, knowing that her social standing makes the match impossible, and that she can get nothing out of it, the Jailer's Daughter still is madly in love with Palamon. Palamon is brooding in jail, angsting over never being able to be near Emilia. In a fit of anger he lashes out at the Jailer's Daughter, then apologizes gallantly. She leaves, dragged away by her father, troubled over how badly he is doing. Palamon angsts some more. The Jailer's Daughter returns, bringing him a present: freedom! At first he refuses, since it will be trouble for her and her father, and also because he knows (and tells her) that he will end up hurting her. But he is eaten up with Emilia, and eventually accepts. They flee into the night.
Arcite, of course, has won the tournament by posing as the wandering knight. He is now Emilia's companion. Emilia talks to him about her sister and Theseus, and about her best friend when she was a girl, Flavina. They were exactly alike, loving and hating what the other loved and hated. Flavina died young, at eleven. Emilia thinks that she will never be as close to anyone as she was to Flavina. Arcite tries to comfort her, and promises never to leave her side. She asks him to accompany her on the May Day hunt, which he joyfully accepts.
In the forests of Athens on May Day, the players are setting the finishing touches. The Knight has indeed been roped into the lead role in the production, though he keeps mixing up his lines. For the female lead... they have Snog in a dress, with his wine flask hidden up one voluminous sleeve. Quince notices that Flute (Hoshiki Tsubasa) is about to put the Knight's real sword in with the props by mistake and grabs it from him. Palamon appears and asks Quince about the performance, getting excited when he learns that Emilia will be there. Then Quince is called away. Palamon notices that he has left the sword behind, and picks it up, intending to run after him and return it, but then he checks himself, considering. He hears the hunt coming and hides. His jealousy and fury at seeing Arcite with Emilia is overpowering. For a moment Emilia sends Arcite after the horns to se eif the stag has passed in that direction. While waiting for him to return she admires some roses and pricks her finger. Palamon emerges and kisses it for her, startling and angering her. She runs off. After the hunt has passed, the Knight arrives, dressed in costume and practicing his lines. Palamon gets an idea, and steps out from his hiding place, brandishing his sword. He leads the poor, confused Knight away at sword-point.
Then we begin the players' performance. Poor Snog is shaking in his dress as he enters in costume with the mask held up to his face. Then the Knight enters, but he seems to have forgotten his part entirely, to the horror of the other players, who try to point him in the right direction. But of course as soon as he spots Arcite he throws aside both mask and costume and it is Palamon. He hacks at Arcite like a mad thing, and the two single-mindedly begin to fight. Pirithous breaks them up, and Palamon announces his identity, and Arcite's. Theseus orders their immediate death for disobeying the law. But Emilia intervenes, saying that she does not want to be the reason for the death of either noble young man. Theseus tells her to choose one, and the other must die. She protests that she could never do that, and he gravely tells her that leaving both alive will only mean that they will continue their struggle. She protests again that it is too cruel to make her choose, and Hippolyta agrees with her. So Theseus declares that the young men will fight, and the winner will get Emilia, while the looser will be executed. They have a year to travel and gather supporters for the tournament. Palamon accepts this as just, and Arcite also agrees. They depart.
Act Two
Act two opens with another choreographed number, and another shadow scene with Palamon and Arcite fencing together as children. They travel the world, fighting knights in various foreign countries and defeating them, swelling their ranks.
Emilia is still horrified that this is all over her. She goes into the woods to pray to Athena. She decides to kill herself, so that the knights will have nothing to fight over. Meanwhile, the Jailer's Daughter has been watching her. The Jailer's Daughter has gone mad, unable to find Palamon, she is convinced that he has drowned or been eaten by a wolf and that it is all her fault. Still, seeing the princess about to kill herself, she cries out: "No!" Startled, Emilia decides that the voice belongs to Athena. The Jailer's Daughter plays along, giving garbled and nonsense answers (which are all that she can manage) to Emilia's questions. Emilia begs to know what will happen to the young noble kinsmen, and the Jailer's Daughter at last cries that "both will get what they desire, so don't worry anymore, princess!" and flees. Emilia is even more confused.
The Jailer has employed a learned Doctor (Ayazuki Seri) to try to find a cure for his daughter's madness. The doctor announces that the way to cure her is for the Wooer to pretend that he is Palamon. This doesn't go down well with the Wooer at all, but the Jailer convinces him. And he must talk to her as if her were Palamon, and sing to her, the Doctor continues. The Wooer is not very happy about the singing either, but the Doctor perseveres, and at last the Wooer accepts.
The day of the tournament draws near, and Palamon and Arcite arrive in Athens. The night before, Palamon goes to visit Emilia. He gives her a gift of cloth he has gotten on his travels, then turns to go. But she stops him with a cry, begging him to tell her about the people he saw, and the animals, the plants, anything so that the night would go on forever and the next day not arrive. The cloth unwinds, falling down from her balcony nearly to the ground. He turns back to her and tells her that he wants tomorrow to come, so that things will be decided. He clutches at the cloth, holding it since he cannot hold her. Lovely scene, lovely, lovely, lovely scene. She tells him that Athena has said that both he and Arcite will get what they wish, and asks him what he wishes for. He tells her he wishes for her love.
Arcite arrives as they are saying their goodbyes, but he stays back in the shadows, and lets both of them slip away. The Knight has seen this. He asks Arcite if he also brought something back for Emilia, but Arcite waves the question away. Then he recognizes the Knight, and apologizes for the year before. They talk about nobility and things like that, and the Knight says he will be watching the tournament. Arcite leaves, and Palamon comes on. He also recognizes the Knight, and apologizes. The Knight is moved by the nobility of both young men, and startled by Palamon's acceptance that he might not survive the next day. They both depart, and Pirithous and Arcite enter. Pirithous tells Arcite that he reminds him of himself when he was young, and wishes him luck. Arcite tells him that all he wishes is to win the tournament the next day.
That night, Palamon and Arcite make their peace with each other, and say what they think will be their final farewell.
The next morning, the Jailer reports that his charges slept and ate well, and seemed in good spirits. Hippolyta reports that Emilia hardly ate and seemed ready to collapse at any moment. The royal party leaves to go to the tournament grounds.
Meanwhile, the Wooer and the countrymen and maids put their scheme into action. The Jailer's Daughter is convinced that she has found Palamon, that he is well, and that he loves her. He sings to her. Afterward, the gong sounds to mark the beginning of the tournament. The Jailer's Daughter wants to go, but the Wooer draws her away to the town, promising to buy her whatever she wants in the market.
The tournament begins, an eerie reenactment of the play's opening scene, in which gray-cloaked knights fall one by one. At last only Palamon and Arcite are left standing. Gasping, they throw themselves at one another again and again. Both are wounded, but finally Arcite gets in a decisive blow and Palamon collapses. Emilia wails. Theseus declares the tournament finished and Arcite the winner. Emilia crowns him, then flees, sobbing. The Knight helps Palamon to his feet, and the defeated man limps off the stage, emotions raw on his face. Arcite is left, and cries his name.
The scene changes to a sunlit clearing in the forests. "This is where I will die, then?" Palamon asks. The Knight tells the Jailer to untie Palamon's wrists, and the young man bravely sinks to his knees, ready for the end. But just as the Knight raises his sword, a shout comes to hold the execution. Pirithous comes running up, and tells them to stop. Palamon is angry, demanding to know why they will make him wait, but then a white and shaken Wooer and Jailer's Daughter appear and the Wooer tells their tale. They were walking in the town when Arcite rode through on his great horse, making his victory run. But as the horse got closer the Jailer's Daughter was worried that the Wooer would be run down, and she called out "Palamon!" Hearing the name, Arcite twisted in his saddle to look and lost his balance. He fell and was trampled.
As they talk, Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia in her wedding gown, and the countrymen and maids appear and gather around.
They bring the bloody Arcite in on a bier, as Arcite had asked to see Palamon. First, though, Arcite talks to Emilia and Theseus, and begs them to spare Palamon's life, as he loves Emilia greatly and will care for her. Then he pulls a gold necklace out from his tunic and gives it to Emilia, apologizing and saying her had planned to give it to her after they were wed. Then he calls for Palamon, who grips his hand tightly. He asks Palamon to not despair, and to look after Emilia, and then he dies.
Palamon is devastated. He had not realized before this point how closely his life was twinned with Arcite's. He does not know how to live without him. Emilia begs him to live, for her sake, and promises that she will be with him. After she departs, however, Palamon is bleak and empty. He lifts hands red with the blood of his cousin and marks himself on the forehead, leaving a bloody cross.
Everyone came out for one last dance (a reprise of the players' song), and then took their bows. It was a nice moment to recover, and very sweet. After the bows, Masaki introduced the band (New Sounds), and then if there was time called out one of the younger cast for a "mini interview". On the 19th she forgot to introduce New Sounds, but Mirio reminded her. Then it took so much time that they didn't do a mini interview. On the second show on the 22nd, Shimon Yuriya did the mini interview, which was basically saying how much she was enjoying putting on the show, and thanking everyone. So cute! On the 23rd... I can't remember. I can't remember at all. I was too wrapped up in things, I'm afraid. Might have been Ayao June?
What I Thought:
In all honesty, it was a very young cast, and that was reflected in the quality of the performances. It had kind of a shinko feel to it. And, er, Shakespeare. Very over-dramatic.
But I enjoyed all the changes Koyanagi-Sensei had made, to give Palamon and Arcite more individual personalities -- both enlarging on the original, and adding her own. And I liked what she did to Emilia's role (which is really pretty flat and boring in the original). She shrank the Jailer's Daughter down a bit, to give more time for the players' storyline, and to Ruu-chan. Which made me a leeeetle sad, because I loved the character of the Jailer's Daughter, but she still gave her some awesome scenes, and hey, you will never hear me complain about more stage time for Ruu-chan. Who absolutely stole the stage whenever she was on, by the way. Hilarious.
Yes, all the added comedy with the players, and (interesting choice) during the scene in the jail cell when Palamon and Arcite first see Emilia, and with Ruu-chan, gave the audience some much-needed relief from the gloom and doom of the main storyline. Karen was hilariously cute. Shimon was love. Takachi Ao has a hugely charismatic smile, which she used to full sly effect. Ayao June was fussy love. Ken Ruisu had possibly the hottest costume. Ayazuki Seri's character acting was amazing. Her old-man Doctor was great. (But I was also glad to see her and Ruisu out of their beard make-up during the battle scenes.) Senka roles were really rather small and dull, unfortunately. Ban-san, why that wig, why?!
Songs. Songs did not appeal to me hugely the first time, but grew on me. Aside from Masaki and Mirio and Shizuku, Ruisu and Ruu-chan also got songs. <3<3
Set was awesome. A three-walled set that made the stage smaller than it actually was, made up of two floors of curtained arches. The top floor had a walkway behind it that the actors could use to get up there and pop out of arches/windows. Arches on the stage level were used as entrances, as convenient places to fall back into when stabbed, and as hiding places.
Costumes were ... well, I loved them. Though the shoulder pads on our leading "men" got rather out of control at times, and poor Mirio in particular looked like she had no neck a lot of the time. But I loved the capes. I loved the satiny shirts. I loved the dresses (particularly Ran-chan's and what they did with the design to change it when she was sane and when she was mad).
Masaki's hair deserves its own paragraph. Because. Hair. Down to her rear. Flying about gloriously. Permanent extensions, not a wig, that she said she had a lot of trouble dealing with the care of every day. I certainly saw her get it tangled in things often enough at irimachi and demachi, poor thing. Love her, love her always unique and crazy stage hair. Sasuga Masaki-kun.
Speaking of rears, however. If you ended up in seats on stage right (which I did the first two times), you got the Oshiri seats. Because.... Masaki spends a lot of time with her rear pointed at you, during the emotional breakdown scenes. ..... I was a bit sad the second time I realized I had a ticket on that side, because I was missing all the great energy and sweat and snot and tears pouring down her face (which I had only heard of from friends who had gotten seats on the other side). ...Yeah. She really got into those scenes. Love our girl.
A traditional Shakespearean setting of the show, all-in-all, which actually made me really happy. I enjoyed it, and enjoyed it more each time I saw it, and was getting towards loving it. But I suspect if you're not a fan of any of the actresses in it, you might find it overall unimpressive.
OMG. LUCHENI!!!! She is going to blow everyone away.<3 Rehearsals start on the 6th. Everyone, mark your calendars.
Anyway... much delayed:
The Two Noble KinsmenMoon Troupe Bow Hall, 2009
Leads: Ryuu Masaki & Asumi Rio, Hazakura Shizuku
[ TakaWiki ] [ Asahi Review w/ Photos ]
Koyanagi-sensei's adaption is an interesting one. (I'll assume anyone reading this has read at least a short summary of the original Fletcher/Shakespeare play. If you haven't, google it!) The first act follows the original Palamon/Arcite/Emilia storyline pretty closely, and the Palamon/Jailer's Daughter storyline is not changed much either. I think the biggest change is with the Schoolmaster and countrymen/maids and their Morris dancing, which has turned into a playwright and players, with the Wooer getting more of a personality as being a member of the players as well. In the second act, the show deviates quite a lot more, though it wraps things up to a similar conclusion.
I was surprised. Masaki had the voice-over intro at the beginning, and didn't share it with Mirio at all, like I've heard done in other double-lead Bows. In fact, in some ways it really didn't feel like a double-lead. Not that *I'm* complaining! <3
Summary:
Act One
The Takarazuka version opens with a really great choreographed battle scene. Nearly the entire cast is present (musumeyaku as well, in cute short wigs), wrapped in long gray cloaks with the hoods up to hide their faces, lying as though dead on the floor. They rise one by one, wailing in the dark. Then they start hacking away violently at each other, and their hoods fall back as they do. Palamon (Ryuu Masaki) manages to wrest away someone's sword at one point and is holding off her opponents with two swords and long hair flying. Guaranteed to warm a fan's heart. One by one, everyone falls dead again, until they are back exactly where they started, with only Palamon and Arcite (Asumi Rio) left standing. Palamon kneels to lift up a handful of dirt and let it sift through his fingers, staring at the devastation around them, but Arcite is more prosaic. "It's over; we've protected the city." They limp off the battle field together.
Next scene is the marriage of Theseus (Ban Akira in a horrible wig) and Hippolyta (Amano Hotaru, rockin' the regality), which is interrupted by the abrupt entrance of the Three Queens, whose husbands have been killed and left to rot by Creon. They beg Theseus to attack Thebes and defeat Creon, so that they can recover their husbands bodies. Kagetsu Miyako, Remi Kurea, and Kotone Kazuha look awesome as the Three Queens, and make a wonderful, wailing Greek chorus, always moving, never still, weeping and wailing and begging in a pathetic and really entertaining way, while the baby otokoyaku playing courtiers in the background attempted to look sympathetic/horrified, and looked more like they had indigestion (they were terribly cute). Emilia (Hazakura Shizuku), Hippolyta's younger sister, arrives and is instantly won over, and in turn convinces her sister to beg Theseus on the Queens' behalf. So the poor guy, surrounded and hounded by weeping women clinging to his hands on all sides, has to give up on his wedding and march off to war. He leaves his new wife and Athens.
Back to Thebes, where Palamon has decided to leave the city, disgusted by his uncle Creon. He has almost convinced Arcite to join him in seeing the world, when a messenger arrives, telling them Thebes is under attack by Theseus, and their uncle Creon demands their presence to help defend the city. Well, Palamon hates his uncle, but he loves his city, so he announces his intention to defend it one last time, and Arcite joins him.
Another choreographed battle scene, while Theseus and his trusted friend Pirithous (Isono Chihiro) and the Three Queens look on.
Theseus is triumphant, Creon defeated, and the cousins are imprisoned in a jail in Athens. In the courtyard of that jail, rehearsals are underway for the May Day celebration. The Playwright (Ayao June)is watching over his production like an anxious hen. The countrymen and maids dance, and the stars of the show are the Wooer (Kouzuki Ruu) and the Jailer's Daughter (Ranno Hana). The Jailer's Daughter isn't paying much attention to the choreography, or to her wooer, however... her mind is full of the two noble kinsmen from Thebes in her father's jail. The poor Wooer chases her all around, encouraged by the Jailer (Ken Ruisu) trying to give her a rose, but she just knocks it aside in disgust and leaves, sighing over Palamon.
Inside the jail cell, Palamon is fretting and angry, while Arcite tries to get him to cool down and just accept their lot, content that they're together. They get into a heated argument, but then laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. They are midway through talking about what great friends they are when Palamon's attention is caught by Emilia entering the garden. He is immediately passionately in love with her. Arcite, amused, comes to see what his cousin is spouting poetry about and falls in love with her as well.
Emilia is talking to her lady-in-waiting about her sister, and love, and how being married has tamed her sister. She leaves, and the two cousins immediately get into a fight over who has more right to love her, with Palamon complaining bitterly that he saw her first and loves her best, and Arcite is a traitor, while Arcite says that his heart is his own, and he can't help but be in love with her. The Jailer arrives, interrupting their fight, with the announcement that someone has pleaded Arcite's case with the king, and he is to be released from prison, but banished from Athens. The cousins part with bitter words.
Alone in the woods outside the city, Arcite is devastated, his soul dark. He meets a wandering knight (Shimon Yuriya), and the knight asks him if he is also headed for the tournament, where the winner will be made companion to the princess, Emilia. Arcite asks the knight's name, then in his turn, cries that he abandoned his name in his jail cell, and steals the knight's sword, stabbing him in the leg and back with it. The shocked knight crumples, and the stonily resolved Arcite leaves for the tournament.
A couple of days later the countrymen are in the forest, trying to find their leading lady and man (the Jailer's Daughter and her Wooer), who haven't been showing up to rehearsals. Instead they stumble upon the knight. They wake him up, then shock him more fully awake with a shot of Snog's (Chinami Karen) ever-present wine flask. The knight tells them he was attacked by a thief, but then discovers that he still has his full coin purse... all that he's missing is his sword. He immediately sends Snog off to get him a new sword. However, when the countrymen hear that he's planning to go to the tournament they shuffle about for a minute, and then break the bad news: The tournament is over. A wandering knight named Xxxx has won. (Sorry, I forget her name.) "But... I'm Xxxxx," the poor knight complains. In the midst of all the confusion, Bottom (Takachi Ao) has a brilliant idea -- the knight can be their new leading man. Quince (Hibiki Reona) protests that this is ridiculous! Although he may be the right height, and the right countenance, and the right kind of voice, and be able to handle a sword.... *laughs* Quince convinces himself. They carry off the poor, unsuspecting knight.
Meanwhile, knowing that her social standing makes the match impossible, and that she can get nothing out of it, the Jailer's Daughter still is madly in love with Palamon. Palamon is brooding in jail, angsting over never being able to be near Emilia. In a fit of anger he lashes out at the Jailer's Daughter, then apologizes gallantly. She leaves, dragged away by her father, troubled over how badly he is doing. Palamon angsts some more. The Jailer's Daughter returns, bringing him a present: freedom! At first he refuses, since it will be trouble for her and her father, and also because he knows (and tells her) that he will end up hurting her. But he is eaten up with Emilia, and eventually accepts. They flee into the night.
Arcite, of course, has won the tournament by posing as the wandering knight. He is now Emilia's companion. Emilia talks to him about her sister and Theseus, and about her best friend when she was a girl, Flavina. They were exactly alike, loving and hating what the other loved and hated. Flavina died young, at eleven. Emilia thinks that she will never be as close to anyone as she was to Flavina. Arcite tries to comfort her, and promises never to leave her side. She asks him to accompany her on the May Day hunt, which he joyfully accepts.
In the forests of Athens on May Day, the players are setting the finishing touches. The Knight has indeed been roped into the lead role in the production, though he keeps mixing up his lines. For the female lead... they have Snog in a dress, with his wine flask hidden up one voluminous sleeve. Quince notices that Flute (Hoshiki Tsubasa) is about to put the Knight's real sword in with the props by mistake and grabs it from him. Palamon appears and asks Quince about the performance, getting excited when he learns that Emilia will be there. Then Quince is called away. Palamon notices that he has left the sword behind, and picks it up, intending to run after him and return it, but then he checks himself, considering. He hears the hunt coming and hides. His jealousy and fury at seeing Arcite with Emilia is overpowering. For a moment Emilia sends Arcite after the horns to se eif the stag has passed in that direction. While waiting for him to return she admires some roses and pricks her finger. Palamon emerges and kisses it for her, startling and angering her. She runs off. After the hunt has passed, the Knight arrives, dressed in costume and practicing his lines. Palamon gets an idea, and steps out from his hiding place, brandishing his sword. He leads the poor, confused Knight away at sword-point.
Then we begin the players' performance. Poor Snog is shaking in his dress as he enters in costume with the mask held up to his face. Then the Knight enters, but he seems to have forgotten his part entirely, to the horror of the other players, who try to point him in the right direction. But of course as soon as he spots Arcite he throws aside both mask and costume and it is Palamon. He hacks at Arcite like a mad thing, and the two single-mindedly begin to fight. Pirithous breaks them up, and Palamon announces his identity, and Arcite's. Theseus orders their immediate death for disobeying the law. But Emilia intervenes, saying that she does not want to be the reason for the death of either noble young man. Theseus tells her to choose one, and the other must die. She protests that she could never do that, and he gravely tells her that leaving both alive will only mean that they will continue their struggle. She protests again that it is too cruel to make her choose, and Hippolyta agrees with her. So Theseus declares that the young men will fight, and the winner will get Emilia, while the looser will be executed. They have a year to travel and gather supporters for the tournament. Palamon accepts this as just, and Arcite also agrees. They depart.
Act Two
Act two opens with another choreographed number, and another shadow scene with Palamon and Arcite fencing together as children. They travel the world, fighting knights in various foreign countries and defeating them, swelling their ranks.
Emilia is still horrified that this is all over her. She goes into the woods to pray to Athena. She decides to kill herself, so that the knights will have nothing to fight over. Meanwhile, the Jailer's Daughter has been watching her. The Jailer's Daughter has gone mad, unable to find Palamon, she is convinced that he has drowned or been eaten by a wolf and that it is all her fault. Still, seeing the princess about to kill herself, she cries out: "No!" Startled, Emilia decides that the voice belongs to Athena. The Jailer's Daughter plays along, giving garbled and nonsense answers (which are all that she can manage) to Emilia's questions. Emilia begs to know what will happen to the young noble kinsmen, and the Jailer's Daughter at last cries that "both will get what they desire, so don't worry anymore, princess!" and flees. Emilia is even more confused.
The Jailer has employed a learned Doctor (Ayazuki Seri) to try to find a cure for his daughter's madness. The doctor announces that the way to cure her is for the Wooer to pretend that he is Palamon. This doesn't go down well with the Wooer at all, but the Jailer convinces him. And he must talk to her as if her were Palamon, and sing to her, the Doctor continues. The Wooer is not very happy about the singing either, but the Doctor perseveres, and at last the Wooer accepts.
The day of the tournament draws near, and Palamon and Arcite arrive in Athens. The night before, Palamon goes to visit Emilia. He gives her a gift of cloth he has gotten on his travels, then turns to go. But she stops him with a cry, begging him to tell her about the people he saw, and the animals, the plants, anything so that the night would go on forever and the next day not arrive. The cloth unwinds, falling down from her balcony nearly to the ground. He turns back to her and tells her that he wants tomorrow to come, so that things will be decided. He clutches at the cloth, holding it since he cannot hold her. Lovely scene, lovely, lovely, lovely scene. She tells him that Athena has said that both he and Arcite will get what they wish, and asks him what he wishes for. He tells her he wishes for her love.
Arcite arrives as they are saying their goodbyes, but he stays back in the shadows, and lets both of them slip away. The Knight has seen this. He asks Arcite if he also brought something back for Emilia, but Arcite waves the question away. Then he recognizes the Knight, and apologizes for the year before. They talk about nobility and things like that, and the Knight says he will be watching the tournament. Arcite leaves, and Palamon comes on. He also recognizes the Knight, and apologizes. The Knight is moved by the nobility of both young men, and startled by Palamon's acceptance that he might not survive the next day. They both depart, and Pirithous and Arcite enter. Pirithous tells Arcite that he reminds him of himself when he was young, and wishes him luck. Arcite tells him that all he wishes is to win the tournament the next day.
That night, Palamon and Arcite make their peace with each other, and say what they think will be their final farewell.
The next morning, the Jailer reports that his charges slept and ate well, and seemed in good spirits. Hippolyta reports that Emilia hardly ate and seemed ready to collapse at any moment. The royal party leaves to go to the tournament grounds.
Meanwhile, the Wooer and the countrymen and maids put their scheme into action. The Jailer's Daughter is convinced that she has found Palamon, that he is well, and that he loves her. He sings to her. Afterward, the gong sounds to mark the beginning of the tournament. The Jailer's Daughter wants to go, but the Wooer draws her away to the town, promising to buy her whatever she wants in the market.
The tournament begins, an eerie reenactment of the play's opening scene, in which gray-cloaked knights fall one by one. At last only Palamon and Arcite are left standing. Gasping, they throw themselves at one another again and again. Both are wounded, but finally Arcite gets in a decisive blow and Palamon collapses. Emilia wails. Theseus declares the tournament finished and Arcite the winner. Emilia crowns him, then flees, sobbing. The Knight helps Palamon to his feet, and the defeated man limps off the stage, emotions raw on his face. Arcite is left, and cries his name.
The scene changes to a sunlit clearing in the forests. "This is where I will die, then?" Palamon asks. The Knight tells the Jailer to untie Palamon's wrists, and the young man bravely sinks to his knees, ready for the end. But just as the Knight raises his sword, a shout comes to hold the execution. Pirithous comes running up, and tells them to stop. Palamon is angry, demanding to know why they will make him wait, but then a white and shaken Wooer and Jailer's Daughter appear and the Wooer tells their tale. They were walking in the town when Arcite rode through on his great horse, making his victory run. But as the horse got closer the Jailer's Daughter was worried that the Wooer would be run down, and she called out "Palamon!" Hearing the name, Arcite twisted in his saddle to look and lost his balance. He fell and was trampled.
As they talk, Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia in her wedding gown, and the countrymen and maids appear and gather around.
They bring the bloody Arcite in on a bier, as Arcite had asked to see Palamon. First, though, Arcite talks to Emilia and Theseus, and begs them to spare Palamon's life, as he loves Emilia greatly and will care for her. Then he pulls a gold necklace out from his tunic and gives it to Emilia, apologizing and saying her had planned to give it to her after they were wed. Then he calls for Palamon, who grips his hand tightly. He asks Palamon to not despair, and to look after Emilia, and then he dies.
Palamon is devastated. He had not realized before this point how closely his life was twinned with Arcite's. He does not know how to live without him. Emilia begs him to live, for her sake, and promises that she will be with him. After she departs, however, Palamon is bleak and empty. He lifts hands red with the blood of his cousin and marks himself on the forehead, leaving a bloody cross.
Everyone came out for one last dance (a reprise of the players' song), and then took their bows. It was a nice moment to recover, and very sweet. After the bows, Masaki introduced the band (New Sounds), and then if there was time called out one of the younger cast for a "mini interview". On the 19th she forgot to introduce New Sounds, but Mirio reminded her. Then it took so much time that they didn't do a mini interview. On the second show on the 22nd, Shimon Yuriya did the mini interview, which was basically saying how much she was enjoying putting on the show, and thanking everyone. So cute! On the 23rd... I can't remember. I can't remember at all. I was too wrapped up in things, I'm afraid. Might have been Ayao June?
What I Thought:
In all honesty, it was a very young cast, and that was reflected in the quality of the performances. It had kind of a shinko feel to it. And, er, Shakespeare. Very over-dramatic.
But I enjoyed all the changes Koyanagi-Sensei had made, to give Palamon and Arcite more individual personalities -- both enlarging on the original, and adding her own. And I liked what she did to Emilia's role (which is really pretty flat and boring in the original). She shrank the Jailer's Daughter down a bit, to give more time for the players' storyline, and to Ruu-chan. Which made me a leeeetle sad, because I loved the character of the Jailer's Daughter, but she still gave her some awesome scenes, and hey, you will never hear me complain about more stage time for Ruu-chan. Who absolutely stole the stage whenever she was on, by the way. Hilarious.
Yes, all the added comedy with the players, and (interesting choice) during the scene in the jail cell when Palamon and Arcite first see Emilia, and with Ruu-chan, gave the audience some much-needed relief from the gloom and doom of the main storyline. Karen was hilariously cute. Shimon was love. Takachi Ao has a hugely charismatic smile, which she used to full sly effect. Ayao June was fussy love. Ken Ruisu had possibly the hottest costume. Ayazuki Seri's character acting was amazing. Her old-man Doctor was great. (But I was also glad to see her and Ruisu out of their beard make-up during the battle scenes.) Senka roles were really rather small and dull, unfortunately. Ban-san, why that wig, why?!
Songs. Songs did not appeal to me hugely the first time, but grew on me. Aside from Masaki and Mirio and Shizuku, Ruisu and Ruu-chan also got songs. <3<3
Set was awesome. A three-walled set that made the stage smaller than it actually was, made up of two floors of curtained arches. The top floor had a walkway behind it that the actors could use to get up there and pop out of arches/windows. Arches on the stage level were used as entrances, as convenient places to fall back into when stabbed, and as hiding places.
Costumes were ... well, I loved them. Though the shoulder pads on our leading "men" got rather out of control at times, and poor Mirio in particular looked like she had no neck a lot of the time. But I loved the capes. I loved the satiny shirts. I loved the dresses (particularly Ran-chan's and what they did with the design to change it when she was sane and when she was mad).
Masaki's hair deserves its own paragraph. Because. Hair. Down to her rear. Flying about gloriously. Permanent extensions, not a wig, that she said she had a lot of trouble dealing with the care of every day. I certainly saw her get it tangled in things often enough at irimachi and demachi, poor thing. Love her, love her always unique and crazy stage hair. Sasuga Masaki-kun.
Speaking of rears, however. If you ended up in seats on stage right (which I did the first two times), you got the Oshiri seats. Because.... Masaki spends a lot of time with her rear pointed at you, during the emotional breakdown scenes. ..... I was a bit sad the second time I realized I had a ticket on that side, because I was missing all the great energy and sweat and snot and tears pouring down her face (which I had only heard of from friends who had gotten seats on the other side). ...Yeah. She really got into those scenes. Love our girl.
A traditional Shakespearean setting of the show, all-in-all, which actually made me really happy. I enjoyed it, and enjoyed it more each time I saw it, and was getting towards loving it. But I suspect if you're not a fan of any of the actresses in it, you might find it overall unimpressive.
OMG. LUCHENI!!!! She is going to blow everyone away.<3 Rehearsals start on the 6th. Everyone, mark your calendars.
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