Angel's Ladder (aka Pride & Prejudice)
Mar. 19th, 2012 12:38 amHey, look, a real review. I don't think I've done one of these in years. (I remember why now, too. Talk about spending days on something...)
Angel's Ladder
(Pride and Prejudice)
Star Troupe - Nippon Seinenkan
March 10th, 15:00
Stars: Suzumi Shio & Otoha Minori
[ TakaWiki ] [ Project Gutenberg ]
Random thought before the curtain went up: When did they change the drop curtain at Nippon Seinenkan? It's totally cute now!
Random thought before the curtain went down: Toyoko said, "And Aran Kei-san is here watching the show today" and the audience went nuts. Guys, guys, I love Touko too, but you shouldn't cheer for her more loudly than you cheered for the cast..... XD
Anyway, FABULOUS SHOW. I was both excited and apprehensive when this show was announced, and also, I admit, not seeing Toyoko as Darcy in any way, shape or form. Yet Suzuki-sensei and Toyoko both won me over completely.
The Title
First off, the story behind the title. It is Angel's Ladder, or Jacob's Ladder, the name for a formation of crepuscular rays (On YouTube). This is the only real change that Suzuki-sensei made from the original, which he wove throughout the story. Basically, Lizzy likes the story behind Angel's Ladder, the light and clouds forming a ladder to heaven. Her liking and daydreaming about the story is laughed at by Bingley's more sophisticated sisters, but Darcy starts reading about it on the sly, and even passes on a book about the Angel's Ladder to his sister Georgiana. All of which gives an excuse for the theme song about meeting an angel (Lizzy) which Darcy sings, and for Bingley to talk endlessly about his angel Jane.
Normally I don't like the Zukification of my favorite classics, but I think this was a good choice because it fit the time and characters of the story to a certain degree and didn't jar like some things do in other adaptations. It meant that Lizzy became a bit more of a daydreamer and a bit less of the level-headed young woman that I picture her as, but I think that was bound to happen with a Takarazuka adaptation in any case.
The Adaptation
( Read more... )
The Costumes, Music and Dancing
( Read more... )
The Cast
( Read more... )
I really, really, really want this show on DVD. It inspired me to write to Suzuki-sensei, and I've never actually written to a director before. So take that for the amazing thing that it is, I suppose. XD Basically, the casting was spot-on PERFECT and the show was hilarious and lovely and made my fangirl heart flutter in all the right places (The forehead bump!!♥♥).
Angel's Ladder
(Pride and Prejudice)
Star Troupe - Nippon Seinenkan
March 10th, 15:00
Stars: Suzumi Shio & Otoha Minori
[ TakaWiki ] [ Project Gutenberg ]
Random thought before the curtain went up: When did they change the drop curtain at Nippon Seinenkan? It's totally cute now!
Random thought before the curtain went down: Toyoko said, "And Aran Kei-san is here watching the show today" and the audience went nuts. Guys, guys, I love Touko too, but you shouldn't cheer for her more loudly than you cheered for the cast..... XD
Anyway, FABULOUS SHOW. I was both excited and apprehensive when this show was announced, and also, I admit, not seeing Toyoko as Darcy in any way, shape or form. Yet Suzuki-sensei and Toyoko both won me over completely.
The Title
First off, the story behind the title. It is Angel's Ladder, or Jacob's Ladder, the name for a formation of crepuscular rays (On YouTube). This is the only real change that Suzuki-sensei made from the original, which he wove throughout the story. Basically, Lizzy likes the story behind Angel's Ladder, the light and clouds forming a ladder to heaven. Her liking and daydreaming about the story is laughed at by Bingley's more sophisticated sisters, but Darcy starts reading about it on the sly, and even passes on a book about the Angel's Ladder to his sister Georgiana. All of which gives an excuse for the theme song about meeting an angel (Lizzy) which Darcy sings, and for Bingley to talk endlessly about his angel Jane.
Normally I don't like the Zukification of my favorite classics, but I think this was a good choice because it fit the time and characters of the story to a certain degree and didn't jar like some things do in other adaptations. It meant that Lizzy became a bit more of a daydreamer and a bit less of the level-headed young woman that I picture her as, but I think that was bound to happen with a Takarazuka adaptation in any case.
The Adaptation
The Costumes, Music and Dancing
The Cast
I really, really, really want this show on DVD. It inspired me to write to Suzuki-sensei, and I've never actually written to a director before. So take that for the amazing thing that it is, I suppose. XD Basically, the casting was spot-on PERFECT and the show was hilarious and lovely and made my fangirl heart flutter in all the right places (The forehead bump!!♥♥).