Beth Winter

So, the official Twitter account for the Ritardando play just retweeted my "Yay show~!" tweeted at them, and took the time to look up "thank you" in Polish.

Um.

♥

Also, whenever I think I couldn't admire Madame Ichiro more, she comes up with something that impresses me even more. At the press conference for Ritardando she neatly wove the marriage theme of the show into comments aimed at shutting up the tabloids :) Also, in the poster for her new concert in October she looks fantastically radiant and serene.

And I assume everyone's seen the Toho Geino actors' post-earthquake support message? Lots of OGs there, including Icchan and Asako :)

I love Toho's new policy of being all social media and modern about their marketing <3 I could listen to Maki's voice for hours.

I am not a fan of the Rose of Versailles musicals for several reasons (more of them below), but for all that my seito of choice was Yukigumi nibante for almost five years, few of them are out on DVD or VHS. So I'll take what I can get, even if it has too much pink. Yukigumi of that era was far too brilliant to be wasted in any musical. Case in point: BeruBara '89.

( My issues with the BeruBara musicals in general )

( Andre to Oscar Hen 1989 )

In conclusion: for BeruBara, this was good.

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/ojinami/diary/201006090000/

Apparently Milady Ichiro appeared at Kanji Ishimaru's concert last week and also has a duet with him on his newest CD. This would be one of the new Deaths in the Toho Elisabeth production... think he's taking lessons from the best? ;)

I thought a baby-break was a good decision on Maki's part since it takes concentration to raise a child, but I'm very glad that she's slowly easing back into performing ♥

Updated version by ekusudei:

( 100 questions )

To start with, a disclaimer: It's one of those shows that you really need a summary or knowledge of Japanese to understand. And since I haven't been able to locate a summary, I'm limited to the following:

- Ichiro Maki and Todoroki Yuu/Tom are officers, possibly recent graduates, and totally best friends
- Kodai Mizuki is their boss
- Mari Hanafusa is the daughter of the... mayor? Something like that
- There's a war on, possibly the Spanish Civil War. And people die.

If anyone can explain the plot to me, I'd be grateful. But I still had a ball, because Ichiro and Tom work together far too well, because Ichiro knows karate, because Kodai Mizuki is crazy, because the musumeyaku are fantastic, because the chief non-commissioned soldiers (who I need to look up by kanji and do a proper show page) are wonderful and cuddly, and because my preferred employment for Wao Youka is Emo Dance Mania With Extra Growling.

Also, I swear that Maki-dearest is Mari's height. Honestly, the only difference between them was due to the fact Maki was on higher heels ~_~ They do work wonderful together, and they're clearly so comfortable with each other, including physically - Maki's not afraid to pull Mari around, and their hugs actually look like hugging, not touching gingerly.

Of course, I'm bound to love any show that lets Maki be in turn goofy, commanding, lay down the law, be taught flamenco dancing, and finally break down completely. But it's not just that. Ichiro-gumi work together so well, and the show balances the tragedy/drama (which would be the parts you need Japanese to understand) with comedy and sweetness, so that when it all breaks down and the war tears them to pieces, your breath stops.

( Spoiler for final scenes )

The staging is sparse, the costumes realistic, and the music is all Spanish, flamenco and folk songs. It's one of those shows where you can listen to the soundtrack forever, and one of those shows I'd love to learn Japanese for ♥

Note: there's not a single sequin on stage. I know, I couldn't believe it either.

After a bad day, I put on the Eternal Muse video (Ichiro retrospective and sayonara show). And I have to laugh. I mean, it's got:
- the ronin lovechild of Percy Blakeney and Herbert von Krolock
- gorilla suits
- brave racers
- peevish demons
- bodice ripping
- bodice microphone malfunctions
- Ichiro and Tom trying to outsing each other (at the end, Maki throws her suitcase at Tom ♥)
- a Death getting tackled by angels for photo purposes
- Maki Ichiro in a white veil, in a shopping cart, with flowers and confetti

That's why I'm into Takarazuka. Because at the end of the day, it lets me find better emotions.

(And I need to find a way to screencap it if I have to photograph the TV set. Just for the Bow Hall show announcement that she ends by sticking her tongue out as far as it will go.)

EDIT: And speaking of my favourite Takarasiennes, look what Youtube threw at me. Hiromi in a dress :>

Cirque du Soleil Corteo = wonderful. And may have a follow-up.

We only showed up for toujitsuken at 10, but we got B seats at a steal of a price :) BaraAme - not as confusing as people make it out to be. Tani impressed me with her fire, and Micchan's hair was messily adorable, but Tomu stole the show for me. She needs to do more comedy ♥

And then there was the revue, in which Ume-chan rocked the house. You have to respect a musumeyaku who can dance with a stage-ful of otokoyaku and pwn every single one of them. (Also, was Tomu speaking in sign language while singing? It looked that way.)

Also, Takarazuka-An is very dangerous for fans of OGs. I am now the proud owner of an autographed photo of my girl ♥

Next is Tuesday. Tanz der Vampire. With a guy I've been starry-eyed about for over four years.

This is a good trip :D