Takarazuka Journal

The Rose of Versailles: Oscar
Moon Troupe, 1991

Leads: Suzukaze Mayo & Asano Kayo

[ Takawiki ] [ TCA Pictures Shop ]

Erm. Suspect I won't be forgiven for this anytime soon, but... I didn't much care for it. However, I don't much care for a lot of Berubara, so I'm sure this isn't too shocking to anyone.

I'll keep this short, since everyone knows Berubara.

Things which were good:
* Kuze Seika as Alain: It was nice to see the character of Alain fleshed out a little bit more (this is my first time watching an Oscar version), and I personally thought that Non-chan's acting was the best out of the senior cast members.
* Wakao Risa as Bernard: I never get tired of playing spot-the-choreographer. Wakao-sensei was such a cute otokoyaku.
* Suzukaze Mayo's singing was nice and strong.
* Oscar? Married?: I loved how Amami Yuuki played out Andre's reaction to Jarjayes' announcement. Something about her expression was just great.
* That musumeyaku singing when Oscar visits the slums of Paris for the first time. She was good.
* Cute little French soldiers. <3

Things which were... not so good:
* Over-acted: This is one of the worst Takarazuka performances for acting, no matter which version, and this is no exception. Overdone. Painfully overdone.
* Under-acted: Except, surprisingly, Yuri's Andre was rather bland in some key scenes. Like the scene where they finally get together. She's all: "Oh, hm, that's nice, Oscar." The one character I enjoy watching over-act, and Yuri denied me. Ah well, she was still only ken-5 at the time! Pretty good, all considering.
* The musumeyaku singing tended to make my ears bleed. Also, ugh, sisters.
* Th-the "video" effects. I almost had to turn it off when we were suddenly confronted with a music video of a stunt actress in a bad blond wig riding a horse while Kaname's head floats in mid-air and sings to us. And the slow-motion they added to the death scenes. God, please tell me they re-edited them for the DVD release, at least?
* Getting my hopes up by leaving out that damn ugly "pegasus" and then having sugar plum fairies dancing around instead when Oscar and Andre are reunited in death. I just can't win, can I?
* The pair dance costumes were scary, and I've never seen less chemistry between partners. Awkward much?
* Not enough Asano Kayo.

Things of note:
* Oh, senka cast of awesomeness. <3
* A young Natsukawa Yura
* Maori Yuki still in Tsukigumi

On Suzukaze Mayo: I can see why she is Lucia's favorite Oscar. She certainly gives one of the most feminine portrayals, and yet her singing is strong. But for some reason she really didn't click with me here. Perhaps she was a little too feminine?

I'm feeling particularly lazy today, so you get sent to the wiki for show particulars.

Hard-Boiled Egg
Moon Troupe, 1995

Leads: Amami Yuuki, Asano Kayo

[ TakaWiki ]

( What I Thought: )

TMP Special: Dream Festival '94

[ TakaWiki Page ]

( Takarasiennes )

Summary:
First Act
Paris Medley, Takarazuka Medley, top star MC, Hoshigumi "Gone With the Wind ~You and I are Opposites~", Hanagumi "Gone With the Wind ~Spirit World Version~", Spanish In Takarazuka

Second Act
Opening, Yukigumi "Gone With the Wind ~Scarlett Version~", Tsukigumi "Gone With the Wind ~Japan Version~", Dream Festival, Finale (Latin, Chason, Beat), Parade

Thoughts: o.0 Possibly weirder than the Revue Special '98. Takarazuka has given me whole new ways of interpreting GWtW, and I have to admit that Rhett attempting to convince a very, VERY gay Ashley to run away with him has given me a new appreciation for a story I never really enjoyed. ;)

Possibly too many otokoyaku in dresses, if such a thing is possible. A huge crowd of Scarletts including Tom, Taatan, and Wao was a very scary thing. Particularly scary was how nice Anju Mira looked in a dress. Nothing, however, could make Kuze Seika look good in one.

You all know my absolute love for "Night and Day", right? Imagine my delight that there was not one, but two versions of it in this show. One with everyone and their uncle (okay, just Taatan, Rika, Shiokaze, Wao, Zunko, etc...), and one... well. Try to picture it: The staircase lights up. Spotlights fall on Yuri (Amami) and Yoshiko (Asano) in their Rhett and Scarlett Japanese garb (not rich kimonos, mind you, just middle-class). Yuri starts singing "Night and Day", and then the two dance to it, mixing Japanese moves with traditional Takarazuka stairdance poses. I think I fell over laughing at least three times. Tsukigumi, I loooove you!

I can't wait, I have to review this show right away. I watched a sadly reduced quality copy, and I'm dying a little bit inside that it was never released officially so I can't spend $100 on a nice-quality copy. Because, gah. Gah. GAH. I know, I know, I squee over too many shows, and you're not going to take my enthusiasm for this particular one seriously, but I actually cried during the end. Not "got a little teary-eyed", try: "Bawled my eyes out."

I'll admit, I first saw Amami Yuuki in a Bow Hall show called Somewhere In Time, which I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet, but liked quite a bit. This show has made me fall madly in love with her, like Glassy Landscape made me a total and complete Taatan fan. Another gorgeous silver-screen era otokoyaku. Be still my heart.

Eire no Zanshou
(Sunrise in Eire)

[ TakaWiki Page ]

Walter Shamrock, Earl: Amami Yuuki
Rosie Fitzgerald: Asano Kayo
Daniel MacNeil: Kuze Seika
Commodore Charles Russel: Shizuki Asato
Ravi Shankar: Shiokaze Kou
Joseph (Walter's butler): Natori Rei
Michael Shamrock: Otaka Tsubasa

( Summary: )


What I thought:

As I mentioned, Amami Yuuki blew me away. She was marvelous as Walter, when the character could have so easily been an annoying or boring goody-two-shoes. She made Walter slightly cynical and self-mocking underneath his pasifism and ideals. Asano Kayo continues to impress me. Her character was much darker in this show than in the other I saw her in, but I liked her equally in both. She's definitely high on my list of favorite musumeyaku.

This was my first glimpse of Kuze Seika, and *squee* does she ever look marvelous in black leather! She was marvelous as the character of Daniel. As I've mentioned before, there are few shows where I feel that the actresses have done so well that they are the characters, each and every one, but this was definitely one of those shows. I'm beginning to really enjoy evil Zunko. Evil Zunko in uniform is even more marvelous than evil Zunko in mustache. *shivers* When she gives that evil smirk, ooooh, does she seem heartless!

I know we've talked before about how 'sienne do not make good little boys, not really. But Otaka Tsubasa's Michael was amazing!

Now that I think back on it... I don't think there was any dancing in this musical. But I didn't notice the lack, which is a miracle in and of itself, because I'll admit I watch Takarazuka for the dancing first and foremost. The songs were interesting too, because most of them were traditional Irish and English ballads. Sung in English. By ladies who didn't really practice their pronounciation. Oops. That was the only problem I had with this entire play, and the only thing keeping it from rocketing up past Guys & Dolls to take the #1 spot. Yes, ahead of Rika. ....I never thought it was possible either.

And, because it's my favorite Takarazuka song of all time: "Kaze no Shamrock" [text/translation]

Takarazuka Ole!

How to explain this revue show? It's hilarious. I've never seen a revue show that was a comedy act start to finish, but this was it -- complete with comedic skits during the MCs. There were otokoyaku in female kimono, striding around in a very manly way and generally sending the poor musumeyaku into fits. There was Amami Yuuki in a Santa Claus-like Cossack outfit doing straight-faced comedic dancing. There was white-tail tuxedoed otokoyaku deciding it was hot so they were going to go swimming in the pool... until Amami pointed out that their makeup would run. There was an argument over what best represented London: The Beatles, Sherlock Holmes, or Andrew Lloyd Webber. There were lots of older stars getting a chance to amuse, as a lot of the younger troupe members were in London doing a performance (including Makoto Tsubasa, Ayaki Nao, etc). It was brilliant, really brilliant.

It was basically a dance routine for every country Takarazuke Revue has ever performed in. Kuze trying to be an American cowboy was... rather frightening. Rika did much better in ESP!!

Only two major flaws with this revue.... No duet dance! And no feathers for Yuri during the parade! Whaaaaaa~t!?