ekusudei: (Star Troupe)
War and Peace
Star Troupe, 1988

Stars: Hyuuga Kaoru & Minakaze Mai

[ TakaWiki ]

Summary:

This arrangement of the War and Peace novel begins about half-way through book two, with the temporary truce brookered between Russia and France. Pierre has already married and become estranged from Hélène, and Prince Andrei's wife Lise has already passed away.

The action of the musical opens at Natasha's first grand ball, where through Pierre's kindness she meets and dances with Prince Andrei, and the two fall in love. In short time Prince Andrei returns to his father's home to talk with his father about marrying Natasha. His father urges caution, particularly when his many absences have already left the burden of raising Prince Andrei's son on his sister's shoulders. Prince Andrei and Natasha thus begin a secret (from society), year-long engagement, and Prince Andrei promises the young Natasha that if she changes her mind or falls in love with another man throughout that year, she is free to break the engagement.

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What I Thought:

I had both a lot of high expectations going into this show, and low expectations.

Low, because I love War and Peace, the novel and the Russian epic film. It's hard to live up to something you imprinted on as a pre-teen. Low. also, because it's 80s Takarazuka. And, finally, because it was written and directed by Ueda Shinji.

High, because I love the story, because it was the last performance for Haruna Yuri and Tajima Kumi, and because Asaji Saki played Kuragin (I had such a crush on Kuragin as a teenager. I know, I'm weird.).

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The costumes were meh, the ballroom dance scenes were epic.

All in all, bits of give and take, but over all I left feeling very happy about it. Surprisingly so, perhaps? In retrospect, it was the perfect vehicle to see off a top musumeyaku and a legend like Haruna Yuri, while still giving juicy scenes to the top star and her nibante.
ekusudei: (Default)
Minami no Aishuu
Moon Troupe, 1988

There, I was inspired to post the other Utako show I've watched. This summary is based on a viewing oh... 5 months ago? XD So if anyone has any corrections, please let me know.

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What I Thought

I wasn't extremely impressed by either Utako or Mimi when I watched this show, though they both did a fine job. I watched bits and pieces of it again while I was checking on cast and grabbing some screen shots, and I think I enjoyed it more this second time through, but it's still not really a show to my taste. The drama is very grand; the music as well. It's all a bit too much for me. However, there were some fun dances and costumes, and Maya-san outdid herself in her one short scene *grin*. Kaname was rather scarce for a 2nd-rank otokoyaku. o.0 She made an appearance at the beginning and at the very end as Henry, and at the wedding ceremony she was the "taboo singer", whatever that's supposed to be. I was most surprised by Natori Rei, whom I'm so used to seeing in stodgy old butler roles that I almost didn't recognize her as the island witch. I thought Harukaze Hitomi did an excellent job with the role she was handed, working hard to keep the character believable and sympathetic.

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ekusudei

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