Takarazuka Journal

The Gypsy Baron / Rhapsodic Moon
Moon Troupe, 2010

Stars: Kiriya Hiromu & Aono Yuki

[ TakaWiki ] [ Asahi Photo Gallery ]

The Gypsy Baron

Gypsy is amazing in so many ways<3

I had been hearing a lot about the 6-minute pair dance in the beginning, set to the overture (I think?), and it really blew my mind. As usual, Marimo and Kiriyan move as if they are extensions of each other. They really are the perfect combi, and every time I see Kiriyan do a complicated lift I think of Mariko<3 I LOVE our top combi.

Many of the songs from Strauss's original score are only slightly arranged, I believe, and then some few songs were added. Much of it is in triple-time, which they mention in many interviews gave them some trouble singing and dancing at first, since it's a rhythm they rarely encounter. The chorus arrangements--all of the songs, really--also had that familiar operatic feel. I'll admit, I was quite stunned by the chorus vocals. They blend so well and sound AMAZING. The solos also sounded very good, and the duets were moving as well, although in one they have Marimo singing up at the edge of her range, which can get piercing. In general, though, they have her singing alto, and it's *beautiful*.

From the few photos I had seen, I wasn't sure how fond I'd be of the sets, but the pig house grew on me. It has a charming fairy-tale feel. And the ruins of Sterk's father's castle are just awesome! I love when they use the rotating stage during the play half♥

I adore the costumes, particularly Sterk's and the gypsies'. Lots of blacks and reds and fun designs. The exception being Tamakichi's - She has a long open vest/jacket that hangs straight with no patterns or lines to it at all, and so she looks like the villain in an Arabian tale. (^^; That, or a stork.

I also love Kiriyan and Marimo and Masaki's hair pieces, extensions, and wigs.<3 Kiriyan's in particular is this perfect wild mane that hangs halfway down her back and looks like something out of a medieval romance novel. You really want to be the maiden with that head in your lap. It fits her character perfectly.

( Summary )

( Actresses & Small Complaints )

Rhapsodic Moon

I just-I..... Yes. It's as loud as people had warned me. But I was expecting the loud colors (we always wear yellow and orange in the specials, after all), and the loud music wasn't as bad from my habitual balcony seat.

I fell in love with the opening with the orange neon outfits. Because it was so Tsukigumi, and because there was Masaki, in the nibante place. It was rather incredible; I don't think I can even explain it. I just sat there and thought about the past four years worth of revue shows, and opera-glassing Masaki back somewhere, moving slowly up. And now, here she was. Granted, sharing with Mirio, but still. There. Right there. It's an *amazing* feeling -- I'm sure I had a very stupid grin on my face the entire time.

Overall, though, I have to admit I'm not really a big fan of Nakamura Kazunori-sensei, or his revues. Still! I looked on the bright side; no chansons.

If you want more info on the various scenes, I've added it to the TakaWiki. But, in summary:

Prologue: LOVE
Castle Shining Under the Moon: Pretty Marimo dancing. Baaaaaad wig, Kiriyan. Mini-Death Mirio, who apparently sometimes turns into mini-Phantom. I have not seen this, but I'm told her face is too small to pull off a half-mask properly. (We all agreed that for the same reason, Masaki should not be allowed anywhere near a half-mask.)
Moon Dance: SUIT MASAKI♥ (Club ladies, you are crazy. She looks just fine in a suit.) Singing Masaki in a spotlight♥ Nibante Masaki♥
LUZ Moonlight: I was not fond of the chuzume, despite the Masaki nibante-ness. BUT. Marimo's scene? Where she sang a solo all by herself in front of the curtain because she is just. That. Awesome? *LOVE!*
CARAVAN & Desert Moon: Intellectually, I know I should love these scenes. I certainly adored the bit with the duet dance. I'll give it some time.
Finale: Giving Sonoka that vocal solo, instead of having her dance in CARAVAN & Desert Moon is a criminal act. Firstly, no Sonoka dancing!? Secondly, this song does not fit her vocals and, oh dear. :( Line dance was the usual. I spent much of it thinking Hanahi Mira was Mippou, which tells you how tired I was by that point. Black tailcoat otokoyaku dance was sexy, but also seemed to lack something. I suspect that was the exhaustion, though. Finale duet dance to "I Will Survive"? Too amazing. Doesn't hurt that Rizu-chan picks up the song with Kijou Mitsuru, after Kiriyan stops singing and starts dancing♥♥
Parade: NIBANTE. NIBANTE.

Altogether, an enjoyable revue, and one I won't mind watching multiple times. But not one that made my heart swell so much it felt like it might burst. At least, if it weren't for NIBANTE MASAKI. That alone will make this revue memorable for me. ;)

Hollywood Lover
Moon Troupe Bow Hall, 2007-08

Stars: Ozora Yuuhi & Shirosaki Ai

[ TakaWiki ] [ TCA Shop ] [ Takarazuka Precious ]

( Quick-quick Summary: )

What I Thought:

Another show I have been hoarding for a rainy day, for so many nostalgic reasons.

I'll be honest, I wasn't even certain if I would like it, or if it would be too much like Last Party, which I didn't really care for all that much. But it surprised me. I felt like, especially in the second act, it contained some genuinely touching scenes which transcended the usual angst-fest of a Takarazuka Love Tragedy. When Amane-san gave the photo to Yuuhi, I started crying.

( Read more... ) I liked the ways that Ueda-sensei managed to make well-worn scenarios fresh.

The farewell speeches were.... I think Koshino Ryuu was the worst off. She fell apart and made mistakes that set Yuuhi off in stitches♥ She was all: "I can do it, I can do it. [GIANT MISTAKE]" And Yuuhi was all: *warm smile* "Ganbatte!" Tsukigumi♥

Sawaki Rizu Tea Party
June 13th, 2010 - Aqua Alice Garden

I was so excited when I got the forms and saw that the Tokyo ochanomikai for Pimp would be in the same place as her last one. I love this little restaurant, and having a ton of food included in the price is always marvelous. (Only possible minus is that the sound system is pretty atrocious for when she's singing.)

Unfortunately I wasn't across from really friendly, talkative people this time, and my direct neighbors came in at the last minute, but I was kept busy with the insanely difficult game. It was to fill out a relationship chart using a box full of names and figure out the kinds of connections these people had to Rizu. I did spectacularly bad, but the reveal and the stories she told then made it oh so worth it. :D

They found a way to fit in yet another table this time (which I wouldn't have thought possible!), to match her growing popularity -- so probably about 90 or 100 people there. Oh, sad thought. Will they be able to use the restaurant for Gypsy if there are more people there? Probably not. Anyway, the gift was a collection of multi-colored book clips with "Rizu" written on them. (Pimp seemed to inspire everyone to office supplies in Tokyo.)

Rizu came in right on time, and she was so casually dressed I kind of did a double-take, but it suited her. Her hair was up behind her ears enough that I'm pretty sure she has an extra piercing up at the top of her left ear♥

( Read more... )

(Oh, yes, and because I was an idiot, I kind of ordered two extra sets of Hamlet!! photos, instead of Pimpernel ones. Would anyone like my extra set? 500 yen, and they'll probably mail them to me after the run in Tokyo ends next month.)

The Last Play / Heat on Beat!
Moon Troupe 2009 Tokyo
Nov. 27th, 2009

Star: Sena Jun

[ TakaWiki ] [ Sanspo Sumire Style Stage Graph ]

Summary:

( spoilers behind most of the cuts )

What I Thought:

Just want to get my first impressions down before I see it again, so this'll be quick.

This is Tsukigumi. The suit troupe. The gangster troupe. The western musical troupe. The troupe of ridiculously hot tangos. The troupe that I fell in love with. All of the things that I love about Daichi Mao's troupe, and Tsurugi Miyuki's troupe, and Amami Yuuki's troupe, and Kuze Seika's troupe, and Tsubasa Makoto's troupe, and Shibuki Jun's troupe, and Sena Jun's troupe. The people might be completely different, but something intrinsically Tsukigumi is always there. That's why--although of course I'm sad about the retirements!--I'm not devastated. It will still be Tsukigumi♥

( Read more... )

On the Revue:

I've added in the little blurbs for all of the revue acts on the TakaWiki.

( Read more... )

Many thanks to lliri_blanc for checking it over for me. :)

Round-Table
Elisabeth -Rondo of Love and Death-
Moon Troupe Grand Theater Performance

Members: Koike Shuuichirou (Director/Script Adaption), Yoshida Youko (Music Director), Kiba Takeshi (Interviewer), Sena Jun, Koshino Ryuu, Kiriya Hiromu, Hanase Mizuka, Isshiki Ruka, Ryouga Haruhi, Ken Ruisu, Kiryuu Sonoka, Mihou Aya, Aoki Izumi, Shirosaki Ai, Ryuu Masaki, Asumi Rio, Hazakura Shizuku (Moon), Nagina Ruumi (Cosmos)

( pages 1 - 12 )

From Graph, June 2009

Dream Talk
Illustrations/Text: 芦沢仁

Volume 6
Ryuu Masaki

( Theater starts with the anticipation, joy, of receiving a role, but there is sure to be suffering, after which you begin to see the light, then you hit a wall again... It's a common refrain. But when that suffering turns into pleasure, that is the moment when I'm most free. Because of that moment, I could never quit as a performer. )

Apasionado!!
Moon Troupe, 2008

Top Star: Sena Jun

[ Taka Wiki ] [ Sanspo Stage Graph ]

( What I Thought: aka ramblings that talk about everything and nothing )

Me and My Girl
Moon, 2008 (Hakataza Theater)

[ TakaWiki ] [ Takarazuka Precious Opening Night Review w/Photos ]

Stars: Kiriya Hiromu & Hazakura Shizuru

So... I was pretty blah about the whole revising Me and My Girl. I continued to be blah, even after I heard Masaki was going to be playing Gerald and Jackie in the Hakataza version, except that I'd been dying to see how she handled a female role. Just, keep that in mind. I know it's colored my review.

( What I Thought: )

So, a cute production of a cute show, but if you're going to get a Takarazuka version of Me and My Girl I still would rather recommend the 1995 production staring Amami Yuuki and Asano Kayo. This one was lacking a spark of... something. If you want to see Kiriyan blind you with her comic talent, get Ernest in Love.

Magician no Yuutsu
Moon Troupe, 2007

Stars: Sena Jun & Ayano Kanami

[ TCA Pictures Shop ] [ ENAK Sumire Style ] [ Takarazuka Precious ]

Where to even begin? Well, I suppose I'll do this one a bit like I did MAHOROBA. This means it's going to be full of spoilers, so I'd avoid it if you want a surprise when you first watch it.

( Read more... )

I know they say that original shows in Takarazuka are written with the cast in mind, but I think that's more apparent for some shows than for others, and probably some playwrights are better at it than others. This show was perfect for this cast, particularly for Asako, Mihoko, and Kiriyan. Mihoko! I didn't really go into her role much in the summary, but her voice was low and not hoarse exactly, but a little rough. And all of her songs tended to be in a lower range than usual as well, and I think it must have been her natural range because it was gorgeous. There weren't a lot of solos in this show, and when there were solos, they were often little scraps of them (for Kiriyan and Mihoko). There were several duets, though, and lots of really, really catchy group numbers. And all of the songs were actually right for the voices of the 'siennes singing them. Oh, I love when they do that.

The stage work was completely fun -- great lighting and lots of uses of all the mechanics (rotating stage, trap doors, etc.). I loved the sets, particularly what they did with the stairs.

The costumes weren't very elaborate, but I liked Asako's black velvet suit and Ai-chan's green dress in particular. And Eri's leather jacket outfit and Yuuhi's vest and combat boots and open-necked shirt and... yeah. .....Ahi's outfit needs to be seen to be believed.

Phantom
Flower Troupe, 2006

Leads: Haruno Sumire & Sakurano Ayane

[ TakaWiki Page ] [ TCA Pictures Shop ] [ ENAK Sumire Style Graph ]

Looong summary already on the Wiki, and I think most everyone is familiar with the plot, so I won't repost it here. ;)

So. I don't think it's very surprising that out of the two, I enjoyed Hanagumi's more than Soragumi's. As much as I enjoyed Soragumi's, the cast in Hanagumi's version just seemed to have much better chemistry with each other. It's been a long time since I watched the other, so I can't really compare them point-for-point.

( Read more... )