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

[dunkle-feuer.livejournal.com]

Isn't the crack just absolutely lovely? There are no words to describe just how much I love this performance. And as much as I love Aran Kei's Tyrian, I'm siding with Luminous here as well. Then again, if I had to chose between them, I would have to say that I love Dorian/Eroica a bit more than Klaus, so maybe it's not all that much of a surprise *g*

I'm very happy you enjoyed the performance! And there was no way that Yasuko Aoike + Takarazuka could fail. Both of them are very awesome on their own, so that combination just had to be made of win :D

[galynthia.livejournal.com]

Sounds so cool! I've been bidding on this on Yahoo Japan but I keep getting outbid x.x One day . . . one day I'll have this . . .

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Darnit, it is totally time for me to get a Ceiga or Crescent Shop account so I can buy this one!. :D

[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...

[demoneyeskyo87.livejournal.com]

Ohh this is one show I would love to get since Touko is wonderful and plus it has swords in which should accompany any Touko show, :)

Next show I think you should get is "Aka to Kuro"(the show that Touko wished for her whole life to play in), since I've read good things about that one ohh and finally her shinko digest (http://www.tca-pictures.net/shop/cgi-bin/item_seek.cgi?goods_code=TCAD-247) is coming soon.