masahi

You know, the Takarazuka Gods like to spit on us from on high. We have two Elisabeth tickets: evening performance on 28th and matinee performance on 29th. We were hoping to alternate these shows with The Gypsy Baron, which is playing around the corner at the Takarazuka Theatre. Instead, they are at the same time. On both days. Ahahah. My carefully planned schedule is now in the air.

However, transpires we should be in Takarazuka, seeing Takarazuka Floral Dance Scrolls / An Officer and a Gentleman the matinee before the shinjinkoen. Now, if the Takarazuka Gods wish to make amends and let me see my troupe's shinjinkoen, if I could somehow get a way in, I would be much obliged.

So, much to my utter delight I will be seeing the following:

28th October 18:30 performance
Asami Hikaru as Elisabeth
Shirota Yuu as Death
Mori Keaki as Sophie
(Rest of the cast stay the same)

29th October 13:30 performance
Sena Jun as Elisabeth
Ishimaru Kanji as Death

Asako! Komu! Keaki-sama! (And really, Komu! First Top Star I really got to know, thanks to Susano'o and Lucifer's Tears!)

SO. EXCITED! (And dorky - did a 10-question quiz in Japanese about the Toho production and Elisabeth, and only got 2 questions wrong (dates of 800th/900th shows and a casting one, which is fair enough, I feel, since I was using google translate))

... only I could try download 2 completely separate episodes of Doctor Who and have it turn out to be a compilation of Takarazuka clips, including a Touko dinner-show, shinjinkouen of Seal of Roses and Yuu with a puppy.

Since I will be seeing this show in October/November (YAY FLIGHTS BOOKED!), I made myself sit down and watched An Officer and a Gentleman. It's like Top Gun, only with less female empowerment and the Navy. Thank you 80s, for your abundance of armed-forces-related drivel.

Still, I can see why they would like it for the Siennes: uniforms and lots of them. In various shapes, sizes and colours. Especially the exceedingly famous dapper white one.

( Now, some speculation about the show, including spoilers. )

Hoshigumi's September/October show has been announced and I have so much glee! Not so much for the Officer/Gentleman part, but the fact I will be seeing my troupe performing buyoukai! Ever since Mariko, I've loved traditional stuff and now, I'll get to see a revue in that style. So. Excited!

Now, just have to start booking flights and making plans properly :D

I know it's a bit late of me to make observations about troupe retirements and whatnot, when Mizu announced hers months ago. Still, it's a surreal feeling, knowing that I was in this fandom when she became Top Star. Admittedly, I'd only been toe-dipping for about six months and the nicknames and kanji were a bafflement to me, but I have now been here and into it for the duration of a Top Otokoyaku's whole run.

I just missed the changeover in Soragumi and was still too new to be aware of Touko's debut as Top. But Komu was one of the first people I ever saw, what with the Soragumi Elisabeth being the thing that hauled me in. Her retirement to make way for Mizu was when I knew I was hooked (I blame Susano'o).

And even though Mizu was never quite my favourite, I've always been fond of her as 'my' Top Star, the first I remember clearly and strongly. I'll miss her awfully, but I have great hopes that if Yumiko has gone J-Rock, then Mizu won't be far behind ;)

I may or may not have mentioned that I have plans to hit J-Land against this autumn. So far, it is shaping up nicely with the following shows to be seen:

Hoshigumi in Takarazuka
Yukigumi in Bow Hall
Yukigumi in Drama City
Yukigumi in Nippon Seinekan
Tsukigumi's The Gypsy Baron in Tokyo
Soragumi in Takarazuka

And, on top of this, one of my favourite shows:
Elisabeth in Toho's Imperial Theatre with the double-header of Asami Hikaru and Sena Jun as Elisabeth. With Mori Keaki as Sophie. (Alas, on the days we see it, we don't get Yuichiro Yamaguchi! ALAS!)

Now, to find out what shows which troupe are doing, and planning how broke I will be by the end of the year ;)

Summary: A series of Christmas-themed skits, followed by a revue with interviews.

( Action! - Star Troupe 1995 )

I just watched Action! for the first time and nearly ended up crying with laughter. Ayaka and Mariko's characters are stamdard ones for them to started out with: spoiled rich girl and tough, streetwise badboy musician. And then, they body switch! I don't know what was worse, though - Ayaka having it pointed out to her that she now has boobs, or Mariko's character being informed that she also has something new. :D

It also features (in no particular order) android Siennes, Noru as a Rock DJ whose theme tune is 'Bat out of Hell', gratuitous use of the 'Power Rangers' theme tune (I was sure my ears were deceiving me when that slipped in), and an abundance of random Christmas songs. Oh, and Izumo Aya being amazing as usual :)

I love this show. So much magic Christmas crack :D A review will follow, once I watch the 2nd act :)

So, I finally bit the bullet and sat down and watched all of The Rose of Versailles over the last fortnight. And much to my surprise I liked it. To the point that I was waiting impatiently for megavideo to let me watch more. I forgot the simple pleasure of anime, wherein you can watch 3 episodes per hour.

My main reason was because the Takarazuka Revue has put on about a gazillion versions, and the original manga was inspired by my favourite cross-dressing performers. I'd avoided the anime for ages, because the stage version is so sickeningly sugar-coated that I couldn't stand it. Pink glittery pegasus in the afterlife, anyone?

And yet, the show is nothing like I expected.

( Babble. )

Looking at the show now, I really wish I could give the director a shake and make him get off his Patriarchal High Horse about the way women should act.

My main issues with the stage version are as follows:
- as soon as Oscar/Andre get anywhere near together, Oscar is promptly shoved into traditional girl poses, most frequently kneeling at Andre's feet like a good, submissive little Miss.
- Andre considering poisoning Oscar to stop anyone else having her. W. T. F. No. He would want her to be happy, regardless. NEVER EVER POISON.
- trying to girlify Oscar. Misses the entire point of the anime/manga. Oscar is strong and independent and doesn't need male approval. (And when she gets it, she doesn't go to pieces. She has pride)

Now I've seen the anime, I can understand them milking that cash cow for all it's worth, but softening the edges of what is a dark, sharp, and very bleak story, adding pink and glitter, has taken away the heart and soul of what I think is a very good and powerful story.