Takarazuka: El Halcon (Star, 2007-2008)

[yukinojou]

Takarazuka is my mainstay for when I'm feeling down, but not every show is a gem. Since I've just giggled myself silly through El Halcon, I think it is one.

Fans of From Eroica with Love will recognise Tyrian Persimmon, Klaus's ancestor, and let's just say the show starts with the baby Tyrian stabbing the man who raised him as a son to facilitate the escape of the pirate he suspects is his real father. It gets downhill from there, because there's seemingly no depth Tyrian won't stoop to (though I admit Aran Kei looks very at home when throwing women on a bed and pinning them there). The revue has lovingly adapted Yasuko Aoike's penchant for creating memorable backup teams for her heroes, and therefore Tyrian gets not one but two male sailors who keep being posed in typical musumeyaku worship poses, and Asuka's Gilda has her posse of girl pirates.

But I have to admit I'm on the side of Luminous "Red" Benedict. Let's see - he's noble, rash and needs a knock on the head. He has a crazy pirate mentor, and he manages to "kidnap" Tyrian's ward only to get tackled by her as she giggles about (I think) how cool he is. (I believe this would be where Eroica gets his enthusiasm from.) And oh, Hoshigumi have so many lovely actresses there - Yuzuki Reon and Kazu Ryouka work beautifully together, it's such a pity that Kazu's retiring just before Chie becomes top. Other people I'll definitely keep an eye on are Suzumi Shio (she does anger very well) and Tenju Mitsuki - just a baby, but she's got the otokoyaku fire in spades.

The show is... more on crack than From Eroica with Love, which is an achievement. It chiefly earns this distinction via the appearance of the disco-dancing Queen Bess.

Comments

[fuumasfrog.livejournal.com]

Bwahah! Don't tell me there's a Takarazuka version of Eroica out there, too? I never found one, but it would be perfect...

[winter]

Not yet, but since they did El Halcon and Yasuko Aoike apparently loved it enough to see it again and again, I wouldn't put it past them :D The only disadvantage would be a lack of female roles, really. Especially recently Takarazuka's getting much better about giving females powerful roles, so they'd have to either get a female villain, or get the lead musumeyaku to play Dorian. (Mind you, I wouldn't put it past someone like Asuka or Tonami - or of the ones who are not retiring, Yumesaki Nene. Or a girly otokoyaku like Kacha...)

[fuumasfrog.livejournal.com]

Well, then we definitely have something to look forward to! Oh, and could you be a dear and give some more youtube links for the show? I'm totally working with guesswork here since my old comp doesn't even show japanese characters and I have to blindly click around the related links...
And you wouldn't happen to know where I can get the soundtrack? It really sounds good...^^

[winter]

The katakana for Halcon is "アルコン" - there are a few clips on Youtube all from the same source, but you might have more luck with nicovideo.jp. The soundtrack is sold out and not available in Takarazuka-An :( I love the music too, so once I have a moment I might just rip the songs from the DVD and upload them for a few friends :>

[fuumasfrog.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! And I hope, I'm one of those friends, too <3