yukinojou | Entries tagged with snow

I'm overdue on quite a lot of commentary about recent revue happenings (retirements mostly, alas), but I just ran into a clip that really drove home why the kuroembi / tailcoat otokoyaku dance is my favourite set fragment from any revue. It's as stylised and full of set elements as any traditional Japanese dance, and yet when you have so many otokoyaku moving in unison, it's magic. The flair, too, the way each movement is carried out with flourish and grace.

I need to bookmark and download this, because it is Takarazuka.

(I need more icons on Dreamwidth. I do have a Karincho one on LiveJournal.)

As a fan of 80s and 90s era stars, I remain indebted to Sky Stage (when kind people send me things that aired) and the Eternal Scene Collection. Thanks to the latter, some landmark shows make it to DVD years after they were performed - shows that were never released even on VHS - and I owe it for Chuushingura.

(Incidentally, the Eternal Scene Collection has great production values. Chuushingura is taken from an NHK broadcast, the image is crystal-clear, and an exact reproduction of the programme - full booklet, including English synopsis - more than makes up for lack of rehearsal footage.)

You can't be interested in samurai ethos without hearing of the 47 ronin, but for all the accounts I read of the story, this was the first time I saw it performed. And dear gods, it is moving - for once Takarazuka goes for no flourishes and added drama, because the story provides, relentlessly, emotion after emotion.

( In particular )

Tomu - oh. I need to rewrite my letter, because I wrote it yesterday on the plane.

Basically, I looked at her on Saturday and I said "Top Star". I was right. (And she's going to be aces with Ran-chan. I wanted Eritan, yes, but wherever Tomu goes, she will be beautiful and brilliant.) Mind you, I would have preferred Sora-Top Tomu. Just because she has so much fun there ♥

Teru - um. Basically, whut? She was just getting used to Hoshigumi! And she was so brilliant at being evil to them in Officer that I'm really, really surprised. (Although I guess this creates a void for Hoshi-nibante. And there's a can of worms that I don't want to open.) And the whole Soragumi situation in this case - I don't think a nibante was ever demoted to sanbante, so either Yuuhi goes and Micchan's top, or... Yeah. Whut. It's a good word.

Yuki retirements - poor Yuuki Senju :( I hope she'll recover from whatever laid her out so badly. Shinko has me all @.@ though - Manaka Ayu as third Juliette? Though Shou-kun Tybalt will be good :)

And just to reiterate: WHUT.

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.

Tom. Tom. Evil, evil woman.

At least I wasn't the only person sobbing in the intermission of Onegin. Tom and Hiromi just about did me in.

There is a full review upcoming (with an extra-special section for Ayanagi Shou, because yes, I have a new favourite), but this show is one of those that mean I love this revue, this wonderful theatre that goes straight for your heart without bothering with mundane things like words you can understand. I was sitting in Bow Hall with my face in pain from grinning and tears in my eyes.

(And Pushkin! They put Pushkin in it! In bed with Onegin! And Tatiana was perfect, so strong, and Maihane Mimi is my choice for Yuki Top, hands down, and I saw Miho Keiko live, and did I mention HIROMI yet?)

Snow Troupe. Yukigumi. ♥

...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

I am fairly delighted with the cast for Evgeny Onegin. Last time I was in Japan, I managed to miss Yukigumi completely, so this time karma is making it up for me not only with a Tom-show (first Sienne I ever saw on a DVD, so she will always be special), but a Yukigumi Tom show, with Hiromi as Lensky - yes, this would be the nibante role. I deduce that Kitarou is the narrator of the play, and Sarasa is playing Olga, what should be the nibante musumeyaku role. I'm just hoping that they'll go with Tschaikovsky music as well :)

Now, fingers crossed that it doesn't sell out in Bow Hall, because otherwise I'll have to do something desperate with Yahoo!Japan. Here's hoping everyone spent their money on Mizu's taidan.

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.

Nine, nine good people. On a par with recent top star retirements, I guess, even with the wonderful people who left with Yumiko. We'd better get a lot of 96ths to make up for it!

Manami Sora is going to be missed - a solid upperclassman. She really caught my eye in Zorro, with how dignified she was as the priest. Plus she was Mizu's kurotenshi ♥

Saika Ryou nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw the first 彩 kanji ;) That's a Hoshikage no Hito rewatch coming up. Her batchmate Shiyuu Mirei's leaving too, and that's one more incentive to find the ShinYukiBeth shininkouen.

And speaking of batchmates, we're losing a slew of 90ths along with Mika. Yuuzuki Rena, Azusa Haruki <3 and Yoshino Honoka. And Rudou Masa, who we barely got to know. I think she might get a postcard in French from me ;)

...it could have been worse? It speaks of hope, the way we're not bleeding more upperclassmen. And the ones that are staying, I may get to see come October.

Top star retirements require their own post, really. Soon, soon.

This show is personally important for me as the subject of the first piece of Hankyu merchandise I ever owned - a clear file

rkold got for me back in - 2006, I believe :) I love the visual design of it, the dark red and the Heian costumes. Little did I know that between this and Elisabeth 1996, I'd become a firm Snow fan!

( Nihonmono glory )

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.)

It says something about me that the TakaWiki was the first page I checked this morning. I love many troupes, but I'm a Snow girl in my heart ♥

Yumiko, we knew about already. For the record, I think she's leaving on her terms, whether or not the initial impulse came from the company.

Hamako, on the other hand, hit me hard :( She's definitely put in more than her due, but Naga-san's health already took her out of one show this year, and if Hamako's not there to be kumichou when Naga-san decides that age 60+ is enough high kicks for now, after Mizu's retirement that'll leave... the 84ths Kimu and Yumemi as the eldest people in the troupe O.o Hankyu, you need to work on retaining your distinguished upperclassmen while there are any left!

Nacchan's a bad loss too, but I think we all know the impulse for it. She wanted Snow!Top, she didn't get it, and she probably wants to set up a long-term career while she's still young enough for Japan's extremely competitive scene when it comes to girls of the cute persuasion. Best of luck to her, even though it's another heavy, heavy loss for my troupe, and she's another who'll be getting a letter from me.

JinJin... see upperclassmen, retaining of. And see also, retaining of experienced musumeyaku. Yumemi better not be going anywhere now that she's ~~probably~~ getting the vice-kumichou mantle.

(I've also acquired a Dreamwidth account just for Takarazuka that I'll set up shortly. Then I will be able to babble more without annoying the non-Zuka crowd ;))

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 :>

For the past three days it's been cold and raining almost constantly. Two thunderstorms so far. In other words, the sort of weather to curl up under a duvet with a book or a DVD, or both.

( Liza Dalby: East Wind Melts the Ice )

( Takarazuka Cosmos Troupe: Jose and Carmen )

( Across (Kozuki Wataru Dancing Recital) )

( Albatross, Go South! )

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Beth Winter

Takarazuka: the black tailcoat staircase dance

Chuushingura (Snow, 1992-1992)

Top star and other news

Onegin (Yukigumi + Senka, November 5 2010)

Yukigumi Forever

Romeo to Juliette cast, Snow version

Casting - Onegin

Rose of Versailles: Andre and Oscar (Snow, 1989)

Yukigumi Roger retirements

Nemureru Tsuki (Sleeping Moon) - Snow 2005

Miroirs not-review

Yukigumi retirements for Solferino

Why Maki Ichiro is my antidrug

Lazy Takarazuka kind of weekend

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January 2012

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