Takarazuka Journal

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

Stars: Mizu Natsuki & Shirahane Yuri

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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: )

What I Thought:

Yes please. Again.

( All right, in all seriousness. )


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. ;)

The world is sometimes a very beautiful place.

1) We got Palamon!♫

2) They must have decided the way Floating Bridge of Dreams sold out, Ono-Sensei is a useful fellow to keep around the Daigekijou scene, because he's already got his next show lined up: Russian Blue.♥ I think I shall send him a letter. I've been meaning to since November, but I think now I can work out the right words.

3) I am so highly amused that Aihara Mika will be Mizu's partner, mostly because not a single one of us voted for her in the TakaWiki poll.♥

4) Did I mention Palamon?♪

But...

ANOTHER Legend? Well, well, well, well. Ticket sales for the first version were pretty abominable. I almost hate to see them do a second version, because if it sells as well as I suspect it will... Oh, poor Hanagumi. T_T

PS - Speaking of Legend, I've finally started watching the Korean drama. .... Young!Damduk is totally Young!Hogae's girlfriend. He even sneaks away from his guardians to sit in the bleachers and watch Ho Gae be all sweaty and manly. And Hogae totally shows off for him -- all peaking out of the corner of his eye to make sure Damduk is watching him beat his opponents to a pulp.♥♥♥ I think Young!Hogae is possibly the cutest thing ever.

Elisabeth
2007 Snow Troupe

Leads: Mizu Natsuki & Shirahane Yuri

[ TakaWiki ] [ TCA Shop ] [ ENAK Sumire Style GRAPH ]

To be honest, I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this show, at the same time that I was dying to see it. Since I first fell in love with Takarazuka, Mizu was one of my magic trio (Rika, Yuuhi, Mizu). It's been kind of hard watching everyone suddenly become a fan because she's a top star now and because she happened to get to play Death. I know, it's not rational, but that's the way it is. Because of that, the DVD has been kind of low on my priority list. I really wanted to see Hoshikage first, but I haven't been able to afford it yet. But Julie brought Elisabeth over with her, so of course I gave in to the temptation in .2 seconds flat. ;)

And of course, I was really worried. I wanted to like my top combi together, but I'd heard lukewarm things about Shirahane Yuri's Sissi.

So...

( What I Thought )

Overall, I found the changes they made interesting. Often I couldn't say: "Oh, I liked the old way better", or "Oh, I like this way better". I think this new round of Elisabeths is going to be just different enough that they're not comparable with the first five productions.