masahi

Summary: Based on the Hemingway book of the same name. Robert Jordan, an American, steps in to assist Guerilla fighters during the Spanish civil war, using his expertise in explosives to destroy a bridge linking supply lines. He's confronted with love, loss, friendship and eventually death.

( Review: For Whom the Bell Tolls - Cosmos Troupe 2010 )

Summary:
Der Zigeuner Baron - Based on Johann Strauss II's operetta of the same name, the story follows Sterk Barinkay, son of a Baron who is nudged into reclaiming his land by the Empress. The local Pig farmer, who is trying to find Barinkay's father's long-lost treasure is unimpressed, and to ensure he will still get a share of the booty, he tries to persuade Barinkay to marry one of his daughter. All would be well if one of the daughters wasn't in love with a servant, and Barinkay didn't run into that fleet of local gypsies...

Rhapsodic Moon - A "rhapsodic" dancing and singing revue, whose backdrop is the mysterious beauty of the moon and the energy generated from its radiance. The stars of the Moon Troupe display their diverse charms as they weave together fantastic music with passionate dancing. (This summary taken from the official website)

( Der Zigeuner Baron/Rhapsodic Moon - Moon Troupe 2010 )

Be warned, I am still completely snowed under with a cold from hell, so coherence is not guaranteed.

- best. otokoyaku. group. dance. ever. Quasi-flamenco. Fricking amazing.
- Yuuhi & Sumika are the most adorably intimate Top Star pairing I have ever seen. Robert gently running his fingers through the skittish Maria's hair was adorable.
- Tomu needs more cloak-time. Mizu has hogged the limelight for long enough.
- Kacha is too cute for her own good. Cheek-pinching Re-re and being chased around by older Musumeyaku notwithstanding.
- also, Yuuhi/Sumika, rubbing your noses together may be a sweet little gesture, but from the angle I was at, it looked more like lip-on-lip...
- YAY for three good musumeyaku roles! Not including Maria!
- Micchan now has one very long, though not technically... artistic lift under her belt :D
- Tomochin likes stealing limelight as Rafael. While drunk. And playing the guitar. And giggling to himself over both things.
- best otokoyaku dance. It bears mentioning twice.
- Misa-sama and Misao-sama are both delightful as Pilar and Pablo. Senka actresses should be given such meaty roles more often.
- yay for Tomu leading the Musumeyaku dance in the revue.
- easily the best revue section of a play/small revue combi.

Summary:
Takarazuka Hana no Odori Emaki is a performance of traditional Japanese Dances on the change of the seasons, adopting elements from Kabuki

An Officer and a Gentleman is based on the film of the same name, but has been improved in dramatic ways :)

( Takarazuka Hana no Odori Emaki/An Officer and a Gentleman - Star Troupe 2010 )

I can't say I was wholly surprised by the news that Matobu Sei will retire in 2011. I think many of us saw it coming. She became Top Star a year after Mizu, and she's leaving less than a year after Mizu did. I'll miss her, because she was such a charming, dotty and fun Top Star. I count it a privelege I was able to see her at her comedic best in Me and My Girl when I was in Osaka last year.

I don't see this as the end of her career, though. She loves performing far too much to stop :) And how she's grown since she was a Hoshi baby under Mariko so many years ago. Good luck to her.

So, a few weeks ago, I posted this:

I would love to see Kacha snag Rafael, the Gypsy rogue, who gets to sing in the camp. I have a suspicion that it might go to Tomochin, though. If Kacha gets Rafael or Joaquin (teen rebel who wanted to be a bullfighter), I would be more than happy.

I am clearly more than happy :) Plus, Tomochin as the singing gypsy = good.

However, I am also saddened by the news that Hoshihara Misao is retiring. I love Hoshi, and I was overjoyed when I heard I would be able to see her live this trip. And what a role for her to go out on. Maybe Pablo won't be as central as he was in the books, but since 'the Mayor' is mentioned, I really hope we get the flashbacks to young!Pablo before PTSD kicks in.

On the whole, though, am very pleased with the casting.

So, shortly after Tomomin got her lead, I wrote her a squee-filled letter, which might have babbled extensively about how much I adored her in Legend, and how excited I was that she had a lead in a Bow show.

Picked up my mail when I got in today and saw one was for me, but it took nearly 30 seconds before my brain processed that a) it was from Japan, b) it said "Yumeno Seika" on the outside and c) it was FROM JAPAN :D

Out tumbled request sheets for tickets for Ochakai (24/10 - the night I arrive! Woe!), Officer and Gentleman, club membership forms and something else of which I cannot make head nor tail (translating project for my long weekend, methinks!). AND AND AND!! A reijou, which was awesome enough! Until it was followed by glittery Tomomin stickers and a photo of her in Rock Star pose from Skyscraper :D I SQUEE! Best end of week for a LONG time :D

For the impending 100th anniversary of Takarazuka, there is a rather epic show planned. And typically, it's got Mariko in it, the year I really can't afford to go to J-land, since I'm already potentially booked for Egypt, Poland and either Hungary or the Czech Republic. And Hayaya! And seriously, such an awesome cast! Komu, Shion Yuu, Osa, Ootori Rei! GAH! WANNA GO!

To any friends who will be hitting J-land in January/February, please see it for me and report back on how awesome it is please? Just look at that cast list! Really! It must be seen, for lo, they are all so very amazing!

I know, I know, technically not her final show at all, but I have my favourite character and I plan to make use of it for Sayonara pictures: Linkie

Since I'll be seeing For Whom the Bell Tolls when I hit J-land in November, I figured I should read the book. I think I dislike Hemingway based on the half I've struggled through so far, but it at least gives me some thoughts on how the casting will go:

We have 3 roles cast so far - Yuuhi as Robert Jordan, Sumika as Maria and Tomu as Agustin. I'll admit I was a bit surprised on the Agustin part, but maybe he does more further into the book aside from being the snarky rebel who swears like a trooper. Seriously, every other word of his is replaced with something meaning 'unprintable'.

Hoshihara Misao and Kyou Misa are both on lease from Senka. In the 1978 version, a Senka lady played Pilar, which is a major senior female role. I suspect this will go to Misa, which would be so awesome :D Hoshi, I'm not sure about. It'll either be Anselmo or El Sordo.

I suspect Micchan will get Pablo, Pilar's husband who - according to everyone - has turned from being smart and brave leader into a coward, but who probably turns out decent in the end. He so far has spent a lot of time being snappish and glowery at Jordan. I will wait and see.

I would love to see Kacha snag Rafael, the Gypsy rogue, who gets to sing in the camp. I have a suspicion that it might go to Tomochin, though. If Kacha gets Rafael or Joaquin (teen rebel who wanted to be a bullfighter), I would be more than happy.

There are a slew of other names listed on the 1978-cast, some of whom I've only just reached in the book, so I really can't comment on them. Also, according to the 78 summary, there's a flashback, which would feature another male character. Dying. Guess which role I don't want a certain girlie to have.