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Review: Elisabeth - Tsukigumi 2005
Summary: Elisabeth is the Gothic musical about the love story between Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Death. It follows her life, as an unhappy Empress through until her assassination in 1898, and Death following her steps.
Parts of this review was written some time ago, but it remains true:
I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved it. And a lot of this came down to the sterling backing cast too, because normally, I couldn't care less about Max, Sophie, Helene or any of the less major characters. In this cast? Best set ever. Especially Max (who was a perfect, doting, devoted and knowing father) and Sophie. Their clear and absolute loathing of each other made me squee, especially in Sie Passt Nichts, when Sophie bitches about Sisi ruining her plans and Max just gives her this absolutely evil look for implying that her plans are more important than his daughter's well-being.
Plus, Max's whole bowling game with Sisi in front of FJ at Helene's presentation cracked me up :D Especially with her trying to hide the ball as she runs back to dad. And the look on Max's face when FJ picks his precious baby. Hoshihara Misao is one of the older actresses in the company (She's in the Senka troupe, so yes. Old skool. Been a performing Zuka since 1981, or at least thats her earliest recorded performance) and oh, she can act. She's lovely.
As for Sophie, finally a Zuka Sophie who didn't just act the part like a pantomime dame with her evil eyebrows of doom. Mimi Anri was clearly pwning every man in her court and then some, from her son upwards. There was a moment in Sie oder Wir, when the Priest was trying to argue with her and she didn't even say anything, just touched his shoulder with her fan and completely had him buckle in front of her. And every other man in her entourage was the same. Fabulous Sophie.
And to the leads, Sena Jun is by far and away the best of the Zuka Elisabeths, because she's playing her in a definitively western style, which I'm afraid I prefer for Elisabeth, as opposed to bowing to Japanese traditions. She was so mischievous and playful and rebellious as young Sisi, and then so wonderfully dignified and regal in older age. And I also loved the fact that she instigated the kiss, instead of Death being the one to do it. Even in death, she's independently making her choices. And considering the first time I saw Sena Jun, she was playing Lucheni, it was mind-boggling to say the least to see her not only in a frock, but playing possibly my favourite Elisabeth.
And I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by Ayaki Nao's Death. She's definitely not a male Death, I'll say that for her. And if you can look passed that, then she's a wonderfully, vindictive, cunning and downright scheming vixen with her lascivious intentions directed at Elisabeth. And she's so downright gorgeous! Naturally, her wardrobe was too. Can't name a single Zuka production where the sets and costumes didn't pwn the universe ;)
Then we come to Lucheni. Kiriya Hiromu is one of the best Luchenis by far. Of the Zukas, I loved the Cosmos Lucheni and Sena Jun herself played a brilliant one, but this one... she was perfect. She was just so downright gleeful and wicked, plus so hugely amused by everything that was going on. All Luchenis seem like they're having fun in their roles, but this girlie took it to new levels and oh, she was brilliant at it. Especially being all playful with Sisi in the presentation to FJ and then through the rest of the scenes where she's a completely sarcastic and mocking Lucheni. Ah. Good times.
I do kind of wish Rudolf didn't bore me so much. Oozora Yuuhi has such lovely presence and vocals, but Rudolf is and always has been a meh character for me. Still, the duet on Yami Ga Hirogaru were lovely.
And whee on baby!Rudolf being played by Death's little sister, Ayana Oto :) It was a lovely chance to see Saeko and her sister acting together. Little Rudolf has never been quite so cute :)
So, on the whole, great cast, great music and great set, if you don't mind actually seeing your Death as female and being after Elisabeth in femmeslashy ways ;) Heck, even if you do mind that, this is the one to see for a nearly perfect Elisabeth performer. The only person to possibly beat her is Ichiro Maki, who is absolutely perfection in the Toho productions.
Parts of this review was written some time ago, but it remains true:
I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved it. And a lot of this came down to the sterling backing cast too, because normally, I couldn't care less about Max, Sophie, Helene or any of the less major characters. In this cast? Best set ever. Especially Max (who was a perfect, doting, devoted and knowing father) and Sophie. Their clear and absolute loathing of each other made me squee, especially in Sie Passt Nichts, when Sophie bitches about Sisi ruining her plans and Max just gives her this absolutely evil look for implying that her plans are more important than his daughter's well-being.
Plus, Max's whole bowling game with Sisi in front of FJ at Helene's presentation cracked me up :D Especially with her trying to hide the ball as she runs back to dad. And the look on Max's face when FJ picks his precious baby. Hoshihara Misao is one of the older actresses in the company (She's in the Senka troupe, so yes. Old skool. Been a performing Zuka since 1981, or at least thats her earliest recorded performance) and oh, she can act. She's lovely.
As for Sophie, finally a Zuka Sophie who didn't just act the part like a pantomime dame with her evil eyebrows of doom. Mimi Anri was clearly pwning every man in her court and then some, from her son upwards. There was a moment in Sie oder Wir, when the Priest was trying to argue with her and she didn't even say anything, just touched his shoulder with her fan and completely had him buckle in front of her. And every other man in her entourage was the same. Fabulous Sophie.
And to the leads, Sena Jun is by far and away the best of the Zuka Elisabeths, because she's playing her in a definitively western style, which I'm afraid I prefer for Elisabeth, as opposed to bowing to Japanese traditions. She was so mischievous and playful and rebellious as young Sisi, and then so wonderfully dignified and regal in older age. And I also loved the fact that she instigated the kiss, instead of Death being the one to do it. Even in death, she's independently making her choices. And considering the first time I saw Sena Jun, she was playing Lucheni, it was mind-boggling to say the least to see her not only in a frock, but playing possibly my favourite Elisabeth.
And I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by Ayaki Nao's Death. She's definitely not a male Death, I'll say that for her. And if you can look passed that, then she's a wonderfully, vindictive, cunning and downright scheming vixen with her lascivious intentions directed at Elisabeth. And she's so downright gorgeous! Naturally, her wardrobe was too. Can't name a single Zuka production where the sets and costumes didn't pwn the universe ;)
Then we come to Lucheni. Kiriya Hiromu is one of the best Luchenis by far. Of the Zukas, I loved the Cosmos Lucheni and Sena Jun herself played a brilliant one, but this one... she was perfect. She was just so downright gleeful and wicked, plus so hugely amused by everything that was going on. All Luchenis seem like they're having fun in their roles, but this girlie took it to new levels and oh, she was brilliant at it. Especially being all playful with Sisi in the presentation to FJ and then through the rest of the scenes where she's a completely sarcastic and mocking Lucheni. Ah. Good times.
I do kind of wish Rudolf didn't bore me so much. Oozora Yuuhi has such lovely presence and vocals, but Rudolf is and always has been a meh character for me. Still, the duet on Yami Ga Hirogaru were lovely.
And whee on baby!Rudolf being played by Death's little sister, Ayana Oto :) It was a lovely chance to see Saeko and her sister acting together. Little Rudolf has never been quite so cute :)
So, on the whole, great cast, great music and great set, if you don't mind actually seeing your Death as female and being after Elisabeth in femmeslashy ways ;) Heck, even if you do mind that, this is the one to see for a nearly perfect Elisabeth performer. The only person to possibly beat her is Ichiro Maki, who is absolutely perfection in the Toho productions.