Review: Javan Dancer - Tsukigumi 2004
Jan. 31st, 2010 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
masahiSummary: In the sovereignty of Java, the police chiefs run the country, while freedom fighters desperately seek the liberation of their country and their own freedom. They end up being led by the charismatic Palace dancer, Ali Adinan.
This is another of those shows which I watched that doesn't actually have a plot-summary online, so if I do get some of the subtleties of it wrong, then I apologise. On the whole, though, I loved this show, despite the occasionally crackpot ideas of Saeko going from Palace dancer and pretty boy to the leader of the revolution.
Still, it's Saeko and it's her Top Star debut, and they needed an excuse to show off her dancing skills, which she got to do in spades. I've seen her do modern and traditional Japanese, so seeing her doing the Indonesia style, with flavours of Indian and Thai mixed in was great fun.
The dynamic of the troupe was lovely too, with the freedom fighters and their bouncy idealism countered by the grim sobriety of the police leaders and the disillusioned members of the Royal Family, who are stuck having their lives dictated to them. It makes me wistful to look back and realise that almost all of the lead actresses are no longer in Moon or are retired. Ah, Moon. Your 90s/early 2000s heydey was lovely.
Notable things especially about this show are the big group dance numbers. It's amazing how intimate leads like Saeko and Kurara can make a huge dance sequence. And dance being used symbolically as a diversion to let the leaders of the revolution escape from the police forces.
Also, things that should be mentioned:
- Misa Noeru popping up and being a snarky narrator regularly.
- handkerchief!sex. Takarazuka is, of course, whiter than white, but Saeko/Kurara's courtship dance does things that make a simple hanky look like the sexiest thing imaginable. In their mouths.
- the police chief being almost fatally wounded in a tug-of-war with Saeko. Admittedly, tis on a cliff top, but still...
- and Saeko's character is just THAT awesome that he jumps of a cliff to save his fallen enemy and manages to catch a fish for breakfast too.
Now, to the cast:
Ayako Nao as Ali Adinan: Saeko is always one of my favourites, and this was her Top Star debut, and was a lovely show for showing off her skills and charisma. While she's never been the strongest singer in the world, this show's vocals suited her beautifully, especially the motif that became the love melody between Adinan and Alvia.
Plus, the energy of Tsukigumi under her leadership was lovely, continuing where Rika and Mami left off. You could see the spark there, which had faded somewhat in recent years with Asako growing so tired.
The relationship between him and Alvia was also lovely, even if Alvia was a milksop. The way their relationship was maintained, despite opposition, politics, and even when she was forced to sell herself out to marry the police chief to save his life, was great. especially when he came dashing in to rescue her.
Failed, mind you, and they both were fatally wounded by the police forces before word reached them that the police stranglehold was broken and Indonesia was free. Still, at least they were together and members of a free Indonesia before they died.
Also, the pair-dance in the finale was lovely, especially when Saeko pulled the flower from Emi's hair, between her teeth, and Emi's hair tumbled down. They sparkled so beautifully :) (And the big feathery-hiney dance with the otokos, less so, but still, we can't have it all :))
Emi Kurara as Alvia: As I have said previously, milksop, but since it's an older show, performed decades before, that was the tradition of Musumeyaku roles. She still had the voice and the spark that worked wonderfully with Saeko, even if the limit of her strong actions included trying to kill a man who had recently fallen off a cliff (and getting bitchsmacked by her boyfriend, who had just saved said man by jumping off said cliff after him) and marrying the man she hated to save the man she loved.
Oozora Yuuhi as Haji Tamran: Started out evil, wearing a Hat of Authoritarian Evil, and looming and lurking. Tamran was the one who found Adinan's hideout and tried to kill him, only to fall spectacularly off a cliff. His life saved by Adinan, Tamran's spirit was completely broken, and he abandoned the Hat of Authoritarian Evil.
Of course, it didn't last forever, because - after all - he's a member of Authoritarian Evil Forces, as as much as his sister insists he doesn't need to be a cruel, bad person, Koshino Ryuu's Police Chief Boll bitchsmacked some spine back into him, and for a shrot while, he unconvingly resumed wearing the Hat of Authoritarian Evil.
After Adinan steals Alvia from her wedding to Boll, Tamran makes one last attempt to kill Adinan, to save face in the eyes of Boll, but hits the fleeing Alvia instead, as she reaches the steps of the Church for sanctuary. Adinan tries to save her, but the rest of the police forces kill him too. Overcome by guilt, Tamran kills himself.
Yuuhi did so much with this character, giving him layers of character, from the hard-nosed policeman who knows he's doing right by trying to kill the rebels, to the shaken man trying to understand why his enemy saved him, as well as the devoted brother confiding in his beloved sister about his fears and the path he's on. I love Yuuhi. She's such a wonderfully steady and understated actress.
Hokushou Kairi as Osman: Playing the brother of Alvia and the leader of the rest of the Freedom Fighters, Micchan blew me away. Unfortunately, the shows I'd seen her in previously rather restricted the amount of singing she did, but this show let her show off her fantastic, powerful voice.
And given that she spent much of the show with what looked like a green/black faux-Palestinian scarf around her head, she still managed to look adorable. I'd really love to see her hit top, if at all possible.
Koshino Ryuu as Police Chief Boll: She managed to make the character unredeemably unpleasant, which is quite a feat. Violent, ruthless and cruel, Boll is the kind of guy you want to see lose, and you cheer when Adinan steals back his girl from the corrupt chief of Police.
Mimi Anri as Gabby: I love Mimi Anri. I love her lots and lots, and she should have been Top of Tsukigumi, because she is just that fricking awesome. As Gabby, she's a sultry, sensuous and flirtatious spy, working one moment with the police and the next with Adinan himself. No one owned the stage quite like Mimi Anri.
Misa Noeru as I: Snarky, dry-witted, and clearly thinking everyone around him is making a hash of things, Misa Noeru's 'I' had the audience in the palm of his hand. Acting like a benevolent, indulgent uncle, she was utterly charming.
Kuni Natsuki as the Queen: Despite only having minimal stage time, she brought such a sense of quiet pride and dignity to the character who has long since lost control of her own life, providing comfort for those who are losing everything around her.
Ayana Oto as Guntur: She's worthy of note for being one of the most earnest of Micchan's legion of freedom fighters :)
In all, good show, solid cast, lovely dancing and not-too-shabby music, even if the headgear is laugh-out-loud silly.
This is another of those shows which I watched that doesn't actually have a plot-summary online, so if I do get some of the subtleties of it wrong, then I apologise. On the whole, though, I loved this show, despite the occasionally crackpot ideas of Saeko going from Palace dancer and pretty boy to the leader of the revolution.
Still, it's Saeko and it's her Top Star debut, and they needed an excuse to show off her dancing skills, which she got to do in spades. I've seen her do modern and traditional Japanese, so seeing her doing the Indonesia style, with flavours of Indian and Thai mixed in was great fun.
The dynamic of the troupe was lovely too, with the freedom fighters and their bouncy idealism countered by the grim sobriety of the police leaders and the disillusioned members of the Royal Family, who are stuck having their lives dictated to them. It makes me wistful to look back and realise that almost all of the lead actresses are no longer in Moon or are retired. Ah, Moon. Your 90s/early 2000s heydey was lovely.
Notable things especially about this show are the big group dance numbers. It's amazing how intimate leads like Saeko and Kurara can make a huge dance sequence. And dance being used symbolically as a diversion to let the leaders of the revolution escape from the police forces.
Also, things that should be mentioned:
- Misa Noeru popping up and being a snarky narrator regularly.
- handkerchief!sex. Takarazuka is, of course, whiter than white, but Saeko/Kurara's courtship dance does things that make a simple hanky look like the sexiest thing imaginable. In their mouths.
- the police chief being almost fatally wounded in a tug-of-war with Saeko. Admittedly, tis on a cliff top, but still...
- and Saeko's character is just THAT awesome that he jumps of a cliff to save his fallen enemy and manages to catch a fish for breakfast too.
Now, to the cast:
Ayako Nao as Ali Adinan: Saeko is always one of my favourites, and this was her Top Star debut, and was a lovely show for showing off her skills and charisma. While she's never been the strongest singer in the world, this show's vocals suited her beautifully, especially the motif that became the love melody between Adinan and Alvia.
Plus, the energy of Tsukigumi under her leadership was lovely, continuing where Rika and Mami left off. You could see the spark there, which had faded somewhat in recent years with Asako growing so tired.
The relationship between him and Alvia was also lovely, even if Alvia was a milksop. The way their relationship was maintained, despite opposition, politics, and even when she was forced to sell herself out to marry the police chief to save his life, was great. especially when he came dashing in to rescue her.
Failed, mind you, and they both were fatally wounded by the police forces before word reached them that the police stranglehold was broken and Indonesia was free. Still, at least they were together and members of a free Indonesia before they died.
Also, the pair-dance in the finale was lovely, especially when Saeko pulled the flower from Emi's hair, between her teeth, and Emi's hair tumbled down. They sparkled so beautifully :) (And the big feathery-hiney dance with the otokos, less so, but still, we can't have it all :))
Emi Kurara as Alvia: As I have said previously, milksop, but since it's an older show, performed decades before, that was the tradition of Musumeyaku roles. She still had the voice and the spark that worked wonderfully with Saeko, even if the limit of her strong actions included trying to kill a man who had recently fallen off a cliff (and getting bitchsmacked by her boyfriend, who had just saved said man by jumping off said cliff after him) and marrying the man she hated to save the man she loved.
Oozora Yuuhi as Haji Tamran: Started out evil, wearing a Hat of Authoritarian Evil, and looming and lurking. Tamran was the one who found Adinan's hideout and tried to kill him, only to fall spectacularly off a cliff. His life saved by Adinan, Tamran's spirit was completely broken, and he abandoned the Hat of Authoritarian Evil.
Of course, it didn't last forever, because - after all - he's a member of Authoritarian Evil Forces, as as much as his sister insists he doesn't need to be a cruel, bad person, Koshino Ryuu's Police Chief Boll bitchsmacked some spine back into him, and for a shrot while, he unconvingly resumed wearing the Hat of Authoritarian Evil.
After Adinan steals Alvia from her wedding to Boll, Tamran makes one last attempt to kill Adinan, to save face in the eyes of Boll, but hits the fleeing Alvia instead, as she reaches the steps of the Church for sanctuary. Adinan tries to save her, but the rest of the police forces kill him too. Overcome by guilt, Tamran kills himself.
Yuuhi did so much with this character, giving him layers of character, from the hard-nosed policeman who knows he's doing right by trying to kill the rebels, to the shaken man trying to understand why his enemy saved him, as well as the devoted brother confiding in his beloved sister about his fears and the path he's on. I love Yuuhi. She's such a wonderfully steady and understated actress.
Hokushou Kairi as Osman: Playing the brother of Alvia and the leader of the rest of the Freedom Fighters, Micchan blew me away. Unfortunately, the shows I'd seen her in previously rather restricted the amount of singing she did, but this show let her show off her fantastic, powerful voice.
And given that she spent much of the show with what looked like a green/black faux-Palestinian scarf around her head, she still managed to look adorable. I'd really love to see her hit top, if at all possible.
Koshino Ryuu as Police Chief Boll: She managed to make the character unredeemably unpleasant, which is quite a feat. Violent, ruthless and cruel, Boll is the kind of guy you want to see lose, and you cheer when Adinan steals back his girl from the corrupt chief of Police.
Mimi Anri as Gabby: I love Mimi Anri. I love her lots and lots, and she should have been Top of Tsukigumi, because she is just that fricking awesome. As Gabby, she's a sultry, sensuous and flirtatious spy, working one moment with the police and the next with Adinan himself. No one owned the stage quite like Mimi Anri.
Misa Noeru as I: Snarky, dry-witted, and clearly thinking everyone around him is making a hash of things, Misa Noeru's 'I' had the audience in the palm of his hand. Acting like a benevolent, indulgent uncle, she was utterly charming.
Kuni Natsuki as the Queen: Despite only having minimal stage time, she brought such a sense of quiet pride and dignity to the character who has long since lost control of her own life, providing comfort for those who are losing everything around her.
Ayana Oto as Guntur: She's worthy of note for being one of the most earnest of Micchan's legion of freedom fighters :)
In all, good show, solid cast, lovely dancing and not-too-shabby music, even if the headgear is laugh-out-loud silly.
