Takarazuka Journal

Normally I would post this under filter, but as I honestly believe Masaki wants the word spread on this I'm going to leave it unlocked. I'm putting it at the top of my semi-review because it's integral to my reactions to things.

I haven't seen much posted about this in the English-speaking fandom, and I'm not sure if it's because people are filtering posts or simply not talking about it, but in any case it's been pretty rampant all over mixi and the Japanese-language boards and comms. Masaki has exhausted her voice. I think the 11 AM show on the 2nd was the worst, as I heard about it from English- and Japanese-speaking friends she actually wasn't able to sing entire portions of one song, which the chorus had to carry, and her eyes teared up as she was singing the "A Piece of Courage" reprise at the end and her voice died. I don't know the music well enough to tell, but people told me that they re-arranged the music for her during some of the songs so that she could sing low instead of high. I saw the 3 PM show on the 2nd, and her voice was a little better (she could carry the notes), but she couldn't project at all.

The 3rd was a two-show day and the ochakai, and we were all very worried, but were told her intention was NOT to communicate via writing (as she had done to preserve her voice during Hamlet). I saw the evening show on the 3rd and her singing voice was nearly back to normal (she was projecting again), but it still sounded extremely painful and her speaking voice was too low and husky. Still, she could talk with nearly her normal voice at the ochakai. It seemed she was continually improving; where we thought the week as Chauvelin would make things worse, she was instead getting better♥

At the ochakai she took a moment to address the subject, saying (paraphrased): I've gotten a lot of letters and words from many people over how worried they are. I want to apologize sincerely for causing you all to worry. I did too much over the last year, and my throat is sore. However, I'm being very careful, and I have consulted many doctors and teachers. There is no damage to my throat, no calluses; it's simply sore. So please don't worry any more. I'm taking care of myself and I'm going to continue to do my best to make this the best production possible.

And, indeed, against all logic, friends who saw the show on the 4th told me that her voice was returned to nearly full strength and they had stopped using the lowered score for her.

So there you have it, the worry and the resolution. Now, on to the show:

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The Scarlet Pimpernel
Grand Theater 2010

Leads: Kiriya Hiromu & Aono Yuki

[Taka Wiki ] [ Special Site ] [ Asahi Stage Gallery ]

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the show for the first time. Hoshigumi's had impressed me, but that was mostly because Chie's performance blew me away. This show doesn't have the technically amazing singers, but it has an earnestness to it, a genuineness, that I love. The troupe is proud of their new top stars, and proud of what they can do. The particularly warm outpouring of love from the audience after every one of Kiriyan's solos at kumisouken made me so happy.

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Overall I like it more than Hoshigumi's, which I'll admit I wasn't expecting. Whether it's troupe bias or whether other opinions will bear me out, I don't know. In any case, Tsukigumi holds their own, powerfully♥ There's a reason they're known as the Western Musical troupe. ;)

With the added problem of Masaki's voice, I'm even more curious now as to who they'll put on the DVD as Chauvelin....

Young Bloods!! -Sparkling Moon-
2006 Moon Troupe, Bow Workshop

Leads: Ryu Masaki & Shirahana Remi

[ Takarazuka Wikipedia ]

I could have sworn I did a review of this show last year, but I did a thorough check when I reorganized my tags last week, and I couldn't find it anywhere. *fail*

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What I Thought:

Masaki and Remi are really the cutest combi ever, and I remain sad that they didn't get paired up for either of Masaki's shinko leads. I really, really can't wait for the Roma shinko to be broadcast in its entirety. <3

That said, the first act didn't really have anything resembling a plot, and what plot there was didn't call for huge amounts of quality acting. I guess they didn't really want to challenge the extremely young cast. Still, it was easy to see here the maturity and professionalism that so many people have remarked upon in surprise when they went to see Masaki's shinjinkouen performances. She's very calm and collected, and not nervous at all. <3 Still, "maturity" might be an odd word choice for the character she plays, as the opening number between the bratty RYU and the bratty REMI reveals. It's a silly show, but with some real gems in the otokoyaku trying to seduce Remi, and the musumeyaku having their competition for Masaki. This is the show that made me notice Kouzuki Ruu, Ryuuki Kazuto, and a lot of other babies.

The real reason I love this performance, however, is the second act. They had some great songs, and it really highlighted Masaki's strong point -- her singing. Her "All That Jazz" makes me weak in the knees. *grin* She doesn't seem like a ken-6 at all. The Indian Dance number is interesting, and Masaki and Mihou Aya's tango is absolute and complete love. In fact, I loved every number to death. The one big weak point was the fact that the rest of the cast was vocally weak, so some of the choruses suffered.