Hoshigumi Romeo & Juliette Speculation

[masahi]

In my glee over Hoshigumi's Romeo & Juliette, I have been pondering on the casting. There is one version that I would love to see especially, which includes Teru as Mercutio and Ema Naoki as the Nurse, but I know that isn't likely to happen as long as Ema Naoki has the option of Friar Laurence or the Nurse.

Still, here are my loose predictions:

Romeo & Juliette

Chie and Nene, obviously. And yet, the single most boring roles in the show. I usually skip Romeo parts that don't involve Tybalt and/or Mercutio. Still, I can see this pair tearing the room off the theatre with it.

Tybalt

Strangely, Tybalt is set up as the main counterpoint to Romeo in Presgurvic's version with at least one big solo and two RAR numbers, as well as the I KEEL YOU number. This, I expect, will be Teru's role, which really depresses me, because I would love to have seen Teru as Mercutio. I'd like to see Toyoko in this role, though, because her doing dark and malevolent characters = GOOD.

Mercutio

Oh, I hope and wish they give this to Teru. But he has no real solos, even if he leads the group songs several times. Unless you count the OMG YOU KEEL ME solo, which involves falling over and angsting, oh and dying. (and in the Hungarian version, bitchsmacking Romeo and leaving his own blood smeared on Romeo's face. Yes, the Hungarians like their stage blood :))

If Toyoko doesn't get moved to be the Tsukigumi nibante or retire (she has an unexpected dinner show. It could go either way, especially Tsuki-wise, since they don't want Masaki to kill herself with exhaustion), I expect she'll end up in this role. Unless they want to really boost someone up the ladder and shunt Toyoko into the fantastically RAR (though somewhat brief) role of the Prince or even Tybalt (as mentioned above).

Benvolio

I'd really like to see Tomomin in this role. Not only does he show up before Romeo ever does, but he even gets a big solo of his own.

Friar Laurence

Ema Naoki would own this role. He's the first character on-stage, he has a couple of solos, a group number that starts as a duet with him and the nurse and is one of my favourite songs in the show, plus is generally fairly awesome.

The Nurse

... shame on me, but secretly, I want Naoki in drag. I really, really, really want to see her as the Nurse, because the Nurse has some fantastic fun routines with the kids, as well as incredible, heart-breaking stuff when she finds Juliette dead. Alas, won't happen when there are still older upperclassmen musumeyaku. This will be Mari Yuzumi's, I suspect.

The Prince

This one could be Toyoko's, but it really depends on the version they go with, because the size of the Prince's role varies dramatically from one to another. (3 roles for Toyoko... oh dear :D)

There are also the roles of the Ladies Montague and Capulet, which would require strong singing girlies, especially for the epic Bitch Please face-off. Oh, and the relatively minor role of Lord Capulet, which would be something nice for a Senka lady to do. And Paris, who is almost as boring as Romeo. I don't even want to imagine who will have that one.

But it's all just speculation of course. As always :) I will wait for the casting with great interest, though.