Takarazuka Journal

Someone please explain to me how Rika can be playing Dracula AND Izumo no Okuni in the same show? (Kashi apparently did it three years ago.)

Ishida Mitsunari resurrects Dracula (brought in a sealed casket from the Western lands he had terrorized) as a secret weapon against Tokugawa Ieyasu. Dracula goes around by day in the guise of the mysterious performer Izumo no Okuni, with malice in his heart, etc, etc. But his malice is shaken by the purity of the unfortunate, saintly Hosokawa Gracia, wife of one of Ishida's enemies.....

Oh my god, CRACK.

... And also, tell me how I can swing my feelings of guilt if I don't go to see Pimpernel in Mura and instead go to see Rika at the Osaka Shochikuza in June. Or Nagoya in July. It has Tartan too.... as Gracia........ Rika and Tartan. Together. Possibly kinda romantically? Oh, my head.

Or I could be sensible and stick to my original plan of Rika Marlene Dietrich in May, and then go see her in a supporting role in this time-travel drama thing in August. For my birthday♥

Not sure if anyone has seen the fliers for "Nine" are out? I don't have a scanner, so while I was searching online to see if it was posted on the theater site, I found that the web site is up: here. The poster photos are all there, and we finally see who is playing who. Takashiro Kei is playing Claudia, the actress. Juri Sakiho is playing the.... Spa Beauty? Oh, hey, I didn't even realize, Irie Kanako is in this show too (as Maria). Love her! Kotobuki Hizuru is Stephanie, the critic. And Rika is Liliane La Fleur, the producer.

If only the tickets weren't so astronomically out of my price range. *sigh*

And I got a flier for "The Lion in Winter" at the Tokyo Globe Theater in January, which made me gleeful even before I realized that Asami Rei is playing Eleanor. Here, I feel a bit bad direct-linking to someone's website, but it's too lovely of a poster not to share. God, I love that film. I can just imagine a stage version...

Well, I'd rather do this when I have time to give all the details but I just don't think I'm going to have a chance anytime soon. So better the bare outline than nothing at all? XD

T4 - First Concert
March 15th, 12 PM performance
Tokyo International Forum, Hall C

Performers: Shibuki Jun, Kozuki Wataru, Ayaki Nao, Takashiro Kei, Hoshina Yuri, Otori Rei, Shijou Rui, four male back-up dancers and singers, and the choreographer (Honma Kenichi).

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I think the best thing about this concert was how well tailored it was to the individual personalities of the four stars. You could really get a sense of who they were. ...Insane ones and demure ones. ;)

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And the good news? At intermission they had a note that there is going to be a DVD. Tentatively planned release date for the end of April. :D

♥♥♥!!! Kazahana Mai updated her blog with backstage photos of herself and a bunch of OGs as a New Year's present to us all. Whoever did their hair and makeup was a genius, and they all look lovely (well, except for Rea's hair ohgod), but Gaichi in particular looks so drop-dead gorgeous (even making silly faces) that I didn't even recognize her at first. (You can also see her in the background of the shot of Mai and Hoshina Yuri.) I want cheekbones like that...

And Shiomi Maho posted a recent photo of herself in her blog as well. The perm must be in this month. ;) I have hat envy, and her nails are the same color as mine! *grin*

Methinks it must be a good season for vampires. Kashi's character is Dracula by night, enigmatic female by day. ^^; But what makes me most amused is Kashi's explanation that Dracula is neither male nor female, exactly.

Asaji ga Yado / Ravir
Snow Troupe 1998

Leads: Todoroki Yuu & Tsukikage Hitomi

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( Asaji ga Yado Summary: )

What I Thought:

Oh. I'd put off watching this one for a couple of reasons, one being that it was a Nihonmono, one being that I'd already watched the shinko version... and one being that it's the last of my un-watched Tom-Era Yukigumi shows. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There was never a more perfect combination of actresses than what was in Yukigumi between 1998 and 2000.

Asaji ga Yado has things that I like, and things that I don't much care for. I loved, as always, the Tom-Taatan combi. It's a personal favorite of mine. I loved Todoroki Yuu playing the gawking, silly young Japanese man again (see - "The Search for El Dorado"). She's much too good at it to be believed. I didn't much care for Tsukikage Hitomi's Miyagi character.... who was simply too self-defacing and self-sacrificing to be believed. Luckily we didn't have to deal with much of her. I loved Kouju Tatsuki. Always love for Taatan, but she's so beautiful in Nohonmono.

Love for Shiokaze Kou being all tough-as-nails. Love for Kaede Saki's eye-patch. Love for Takashiro Kei as the rather gay pretty page. Love for Aran Kei and Shiomi Maho, who made lovely bookends for Koh-chan. Love for Ayabuki Mao, Tatsuki You, and all of the overly-energetic puppies young warriors. Love for Asuka Yuu in a female role. Love for Ebira Kaoru's creepy monk, particularly for her spooktastic makeup. Love for Mirai Yuuki, Kisaki Miri, Konno Mahiru, Amase Izuru (so cute!), and Itsumine Aki -- just because.

Love for the entire concept and love for a ghost story that wasn't nearly as boring as "Ghost at Midnight". And most particularly, love for one of my favorite "battle" scenes done by Takarazuka (When Kaede Saki and co face off against Tom & Taatan). Love even for the Japanese dance, which was graceful and yet each segment short enough that I didn't have time to become bored.

Ravir. Crack. As all good revue shows are.

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Masaki's April Cafe Break is miiiiine~! Thank you a bazillion more times, cherrytop, for recording it for me. :D

Some of you may or may not know, Chiharu (Yabuki Shou) appears to be sticking close to the Takarazuka juggernaut. Several sightings have been seen in the latest batch of photobooks in the make-up credit section. And Un-chan mentions that Chiharu helped her get ready for the still photo for "Mind Traveller", which is her favorite still yet.

There is a rather interesting article in Takarazuka Precious about stage names and nicknames. Did you know, wao_wao, that Kotobuki Tsukasa's family runs a sushi shop? So much is now explained. And if I'm reading this right... Kasugano-sensei requested that Tom stopped using the "Todo" nickname because it wasn't right for a romantic actor? And "Shibi" appears to be a shortening of "Tomoshibi". *g* And Matobu Sei's "Un" nickname is from "うん太"... no wonder she changed it to "Yuu".

Rika and Juri-pyon's Thoroughly Modern Mille has opened at last! And Rika's fellow OscarPro co-workers went to cheer her on, including Kashige. Random articles from Takarazuka Precious: news conference and opening night.

American Pie
Snow Bow Hall, 2003

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WHUT? Charlie flashbacks? WHUT?!

And why right before I have to give a presentation do you distract me? Evil Zuka!

In Search of El Dorado
Snow Troupe, 2001

Not to be confused with the 1997 Tsukigumi show El Dorado. Actually, I used the English translation listed on the Wiki, because that may be the official translation, but I think "In Search of the Golden Country" might be a better translation with less baggage.

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