Ima Sumire Hana Saku / ESP!!It has been too long since I had a Mami-era Tsukigumi show to watch. All of my favorite seito, plus a few extras from senka. This tape contains two shows, both of which were used as the revues for the play
Ai no Sonata. Since they were Mami's last shows, this was a special tape. It's only 80 minutes running time.
Ima Sumire Hana Saku is another of those 20 minute traditional Japanese dance shows starring the incredible Kasugano Yachiyo and Matsumoto Yuri. Can I possibly describe my glee at hearing Kiriyan lead the chorus, or watching Mami, Rika, Yuuhi, Shiomi Maho, Shiokaze Kou, and Tani dancing around in kimono? Oh, there is glee. This is the Tsukigumi I first fell in love with.
ESP!! is definitely a Mami revue show. I'm trying to figure out why she always got these absolutely
bizarre shows. I mean, revue shows are always bizarre, but
Blue Moon Blue? And this one is nearly as odd. I think I've got it. It's because Makoto Tsubasa has the balls to pull it off. She's got that untouchable star aura that says: "Yeah, I own this stage. And yeah, I own all of you. And I know it." I don't think I'd get along with her at all if we ever met face to face, but maybe that's just her stage persona. Anyway, she can use that to stare you down. "You're saying something is odd? Yeah? No? OK, good." ♥
The best parts? Rika singing "Born to be Wild" in cowboy getup, complete with boots. Mami as the Beast, eating poor angel Dan-chan and gleefully wiping the blood away from her mouth. The Spanish song with all the otokoyaku in female guise, and Rika feeling up a snarky looking Shiokaze. Actually there was a lot of roaming hands in this show.... The duet/trio dance to "A Whiter Shade of Pale." The chorus line to Verdi's "Anvil Chorus." And the best? The conversation (mainly in English) between Rika and Mami. I had to listen to it twice before I could make out what Mami was saying.
Mami: Jama suru na! (Don't get in my way!)
Rika: Jama suru na!
M: OK. ESP de ikou. (Let's go to ESP.)
R: OK, ESP!
M: Me wa [can't make this out] ni. You wa-
R: Honto ni. (Really.)
M: OK. Ja, from me.
R: Why?
M: I'm the Top. You're getting changed time, OK, please?
R: OK! *runs off stage*
M: OK...
It gets funnier from there.
*happy sigh* I love Moon Troupe.