Beth Winter

The entire Takarazuka run of this show sold out the day we got in, so I had to use somewhat unorthodox means (also known as bribing the hostel staff with sweets) to get my ticket. I'm very, very glad I did. With one show to go, it's the best show I've seen during this trip, hands down.

( Theatre, sets, costumes )

( Plot summary )

( Direction, music, choreography )

( Actresses )

The DVD comes out on January 22. I believe I have shopping to arrange.

...Is Hankyu switching to actual casting by merit? Because I have no other explanation for the Romeo to Juliette cast.

It's going to be glorious. Kitarou as the main antagonist, allowed to let go of all the stops? Yes, please. Also a yes, please on Hiromi as the substitute antagonist after Tybalt's death, of course.

Saou Kurama as the Nurse will be - interesting, because it's a very major role and in a show with three mature female roles I guess it's Hankyuu-style to give the one with most singing to an otokoyaku in a skirt. Chigi!Mercutio I pretty much guessed, though I was betting on Mattsu being Tybalt rather than Benvolio. Still, all good. And Oonagi Mao's Prince has me intrigued - she really caught my eye in Karamazov, she has the charisma to carry opening a show.

And then there is Sakina as Death and Cecil as Love. Ah. Yes. That, I've got to see :D

So, where to start? My (obvious) pick got top star of Snow. My dear Snow girl has what looks like a lovely role in Roger. The person I like the most in Cosmos gets a full-on Bow concert in September. And my Star girl just got her first solo Bow Hall lead ♥

(For the record: I don't have a Flower favourite. Moon favourite is playing Lord Tony, and I just got my DVD of her being nibante in Yukariko.)

Good day to read the news :)

Miroirs is one of the revues that's my secret weapon against apathy. The show starts with the stage all mirrored and everyone in gold, and then it gets shinier.

Watched it today, and oh, troupe, you kill me. You kill me with the way you work so well, with the way everyone bounces to the same beat.

Hiromi gets extra credits for killing me with her Snow White dress ♥

My favourite numbers... Apart from Snow White and Cinderella, I do adore the cyberpunk!Medusa one, which is really a Basilisk number to anyone up on their Greco-Slavic beasts. Mizu has Angst, Trench Coat and Sunglasses, being just a Mandarin collar away from being Neo, and then she goes and falls for Tonami-as-Sandra-Dee. It shouldn't work but it does.

But the favourite has to be the Aqua-number, a group dance that flows, from each dancer's individual fingers to the whole group as the waves flow through them. The music suits it, and the set completes them. A moment of sheer Tarakzuka magic.

(Honorary mention for catching my eye: Seshiru, who has mastered the art of getting into the DVD filming angle.)