masahi

I totally forgot to mention I went to see Takarazuka Hana no Odori/Officer and a Gentleman again, and it does look like background characters really do enjoy their improvising too much.

Things of note:
- Teru and That Stick. It was being run all over Chie's body. A lot. Maybe sexual harrassment is the reason Teru is being nudged sideways ;)
- Toyoko does not seem to grasp the concept of personal space. Especially with Zack.
- Makaze's soldier was very touchy-feely with Tomomin's after Della Serra was beaten up.
- Junna's Cowboy was trying her best to make Makaze crack up, and was succeeding, by showing her how to pose like a model, while Zack and Paula were having angst elsewhere.

And Tomomin. Oh, Tomomin. If Kacha didn't own me completely, I'd be after you like a shot. When inspection was coming up, first time around she was very helpful and organising her comrades' lockers. This time, a desperate recruit handed her a rumpled shirt, seeking help. She looked thoughtfully at it, then laughed and threw it over her shoulder onto the floor in a heap and went to stand to attention.

And at the party scene, again Della Serra was trying to hit on all the ladies present. This time, he got some interest and broke out the Funky Moves. Tomomin was doing the fricking mashed potato. And seguing into Saturday Night Fever. And didn't notice until 20 seconds later that Makaze had actually swept her dance partner away. I was giggling madly.

I can really see why people would see shows multiple times, if they're inprovising like this all the time :)

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 )

Just looking at these pictures of the Romeo and Juliet costumes. I've heard of zukas getting tangled in plain, every day costumes. Putting them in outfits with so many dangly bits is just asking for trouble. I would lay bets on Chie getting tied in knots in Nene's costume at least 3 times before they prune them.

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

( Action! - Star Troupe 1995 )

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:( snipsnip )

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

The latest round of Hoshigumi retirements are out, and while I'm sad to see any of the ladies leave, I am especially so for Ayami Haya.

Ever since I first saw Pimpernel, I've adored her for her mischievous expressions and her smile. She always seemed to be having a huge amount of fun, no matter what she was doing. At one point, it even looked like they were testing her for nibante to Chie (likewise with Ryouka, who didn't want Star Tracked and legged it). Since Teru has been brought in to Hoshigumi to fill those shoes, I can see why Haya would be ready to move on, rather than just remaining as a fleet of fantastic otokoyaku currently not moving up the chart in Hoshigumi.

I'm happy for her too, though - she's ready for new challenges, and she doesn't seem sad to be leaving. While it's always sad when a good actress leaves, I'm going to look forward with interest to see what she does next. I want to see that smile lighting up a stage again soon :)

Since I've got a computer that works, I managed to snip out a clip of my favourite scene from Star's 1993 Paparagi revue, which features a very entertaining drunken dance-off and Izumo Aya being fabulous in the background:



And rewatching, I'm impressed by how unbony the musumeyaku are compared to now. Even the waists now seem a good few inches smaller.

My newest piece of Mariko-stuff arrived today! Along with two more videos :D *clings on the shiny, shiny things* Oh, I have so much love for Mariko-era Hoshigumi! This book is crammed with anecdotes (which I can't yet read. I will learn to, if it kills me!) and piles and piles of backstage photos and behind the scenes stuff. It's absolutely gorgeous with so many little Mariko moments and 69th moments :) I believe this takes pride of place in my Mariko collection.

(For the record, that takes my Saki book collection up to 4, 3 of which are solely photobooks, and I've got my eye on more :))

Acquired from Galynthia on LJ - ( memity meme: )

Summary: Don Lockwood and Lina Linton are darlings of the Silver Screen and the gossip columns. In reality, he's a cocky playboy and she's a selfish Diva who is still convinced by what she reads about their romance in the tabloids. Both of them find their lives thrown into disarray by the arrival of the Talkies.

( Singin' in the Rain - Star Troupe 2003 )