Takarazuka Journal

Passion Blue
Star Troupe, 1996

Stars: Asaji Saki & Shiraki Ayaka

[ TakaWiki ] [ "Who Is Bad?" Review ]

It's been nearly three years since I reviewed "Who Is Bad?", and I knew from the show description, from the cast, and from clips I've seen on various Sky Stage programs that I'd love "Passion Blue", but.... I've never been able to find the VHS in Taka-An. Bad luck, hey? But they finally re-broadcast it last October, so-!

It reminds me thematically of revue shows like "La Bolero Rouge" (another of Miki-Sensei's) and "Blue Moon Blue", but with more primitive costumes. So, a few years before its time, I suppose? Anyway, let's just say that it is indeed in my top ten revue shows, ever. I can't resist Mariko, Rika, and Wataru all dancing together on one stage, and when you throw in my adored combi of Mariko/Ayaka, plus Emao Yuu, Ayaki Nao, Otowa Ryou, and all the other young stars it's impossible to resist. (I enjoy playing spot-the-MatobuSei and spot-the-AsazumiKei, and spot-the-KuonMaya.)

Especially when Rika and Wataru (ken-8! so cute!) are dance-fighting over Tomo Maika in suits and fedoras.

Or Mariko and Rika are dancing together as gypsies♥

Or SO MANY HOT MARIKO/AYAKA PAIR DANCES ngbrkilhbgrbkbj!!!

Let's just say it pushes all of my revue buttons. Even the line dance was entertaining. ;)

Futari Dake ga Waru
Star, 1996

Leads: Asaji Saki & Shiraki Ayaka

[ TakaWiki ]

( Cast )

( Summary: )

( I really don't think I could summarize my reactions to this show any better, even if I had a week to think about it. )

Dream Shakespeare

1999 - Star Bow Hall

( Cast )

( Summary )

What I Thought

Yay! Bun-chan being angsty in a sweater! The only thing hotter than Bun-chan being angsty in a sweater is Rika in a half-opened poet's blouse. I didn't think I would get a repeat experience a la Dean, but I was pleasantly surprised.

However... this show is not very good. It had a sense of being thrown together at the last moment -- no particularly impressive dialogue, songs or dancing. Though Otoko (Otowa Ryou) had a cute rendition of an oldies song (the name of which escapes me at the moment), and the song when Junko II (Ema Naoki) was fighting with Itsuki Chihiro also brought a grin to my face. I think this show will probably only be enjoyable if you know and love the actresses in it. Nerdy Son-chan (Akisono Mio) was a treat. I wish she'd had more songs, since I love her voice. Suzumi Shio was so cute she gave me a tooth-ache. Junko... oh god, Junko in a dress again. How does she get away with being a switchable? Itsuki Chihiro was disturbingly attractive at times. I kept having to squint because I couldn't believe it was her.

I have to admit, however, the magic tricks were freakin' awesome. The good old "appearing from no where in a box", a cute one where Otoko got to show off her drawing talents (or lack thereof), and a nifty one which had a musumeyaku balanced on each of Bun-chan's arms.

And then the Zuka Overlord said: Let there be Hotness in Turbans. And there was.

Okay, so I promised mosellegreen a summary, and a summary she shall get!

Dal Lake no Koi
(Love at Dal Lake)

[ TakaWiki Page ]

Hachiman Hariram Kapool (cavalry captain) -- Asaji Saki
Kamara Shandra Kumar (Shandra's granddaughter) -- Hoshina Yuri
Pepele (a swindler from Paris) -- Minoru Kou
Krisna Kumar (Kamara's cousin) -- Emao Yuu
Rita (Kamara's younger sister) -- Hazumi Rui
Michelle (a club madame from Paris) -- Fuji Kyouko
Shandra Kumar (Maha Raja of Benares) -- Natsuki You
Indira Kumar (Shandra's wife) -- Ritsu Tomomi
Jasvir (chief of military police) -- Ema Naoki
Hariram Kapool (Maha Raja of Bengal) -- Chiaki Shin

( Summary )


( What I thought )

Youake no Tenshi-tachi

This is the Special '97 performance with Wataru in the lead, not the Bow show with the same name from '98 that Saeko had the lead in.

[ TakaWiki Page ]

Alvar Grey (A wandering gunman) ... Kozuki Wataru
Joshua Branton (Branton's son) ... Ayaki Nao
Barry Branton (the outlaw who controls Ash Creek) ... Natsumi You
Sheryl (Banton's wife) ... Hazumi Rui
Augusta (Branton's ex-wife) ... Kyou Misa
Angela (The daughter of Oldran farm) ... Hisato Rie
Roy (Angela's younger brother) .. Otowa Ryou
Calamity Jane (a female gunman) ... Izumo Aya
Clarence (Branton's underling. Deputy sheriff) ... Ohiro Ayumu
McPherson (the doctor) ... Tsukasa Yuuki
Jean Hammond (a friend of the people who raised Alvar) ... Yashiro Kou
Rachel (Jean's adopted daughter) ... Kuji Akari
Jessie (Rachael's lover) ... Asazumi Kei
Adela (the sheriff's widow) ... Hara Miteki

( Summary: )

What I thought:

As you might have guessed from last night's fragmented post... I can't believe I ever lived without this show. Wataru as Alvar is simply amazing. The perfect broody, hard gunman driven by revenge. I was very impressed by Saeko's Joshua as well. She managed to make him a nice young man caught in a terrible position. Izumo Aya's Calamity Jane was a comedic figure, but she had some good serious moments as well, and I loved several of her songs. I have to admit, I was most impressed by the variety and depth of the musumeyaku roles in this show. There were several subplots that I didn't go into in the summary because it would have doubled in length, but they were all very interesting. Rachel in particular got several grins out of me, and I wish she and Alvar could have gotten together, although it really wouldn't have fit the mood of the show.

Great costumes, though perhaps not always exactly... genuine period. But Wataru all in black leather I will never argue against. Shannon, I think Saeko's hair style will be acceptable to you. ;)

There were several very nice songs, and the dances were good as well, both the free-spirited and the angsty. I kept waiting for a genuine hoedown...

So, yeah, another three thumbs up! And why, oh why has Takarazuka not done more Westerns?!