For some reason in a while I felt like writing a detailed list of my impressions of the show...
First, 'Company'.
Probably the first time in my life I watched a musical and felt unsatisfied. My love for Moon Troupe did not let me admit it but let's face the truth: this is weak. What's with that story? Everybody works hard, there are some collisions during the process, but in the end they find common ground and make the show a success. 'cause 'audience are partners of the performers' huh?
I was surprised to find the show is based on an existing novel, so shallow the concept was.
If the above summary is just too short, here is a short but comprehensive one:
After two companies merge into one, several events are set up to promote the new company's image. Your average 'sarariman' Aoyagi tries to stand up for a young sports trainer Yui who is blamed for bad handling her duties, but in the end they both are transferred to produce a ballet performance, just as one would expect haha. During preparations they meet actual ballet dancers, Aoyagi learns much from his new friend Minami, Yui tries to establish partner relationship with a renown ballet dancer Takano who is a star both in Japan and abroad and has his own views on how things should go in life. The president's daughter Sara who is the prima of the ballet troupe constantly appears on stage and does nothing in particular. Dancers and teachers from the ballet school supported by the corporation also appear and do pretty nothing. Nayuta, a young singer from a famous band, is suddenly chosen for the main role instead of Takano who confessed he is not in his perfect condition. This condition however doesn't prevent him from dancing not only the bad wizard Rothbart but also Odille who is changed from a female role into a male one, being an apparition created by Rothbart...... What? Well, many characters asked the same, but in the end everyone agreed. Of course everything cannot go perfectly and Sara gets injured when being lifted by Nayuta, but everyone is yasashii and says it was her fault and not Nayuta's. We didn't even for a moment doubt Sara would somehow be dismissed from the show because Minami, who is her understudy, could not possibly stay behind the curtains since she is the one played by the Top musume. She is afraid to perform, but Aoyagi, who was afraid himself just a couple of minutes ago, comforts her and they embrace. By the way, Takano also had problems because he supported the injured Sara, but he has his devoted trainer Yui, heheeey! So, the last ballet performance is a success despite the problems, Takano decides to establish some kind of agency in Europe and suggests Yui go with him, now you girls should learn to be as persistent as Yui had been, and don't forget to wear a lovely blue dress for the party to conquer a stubborn guy's heart. The Top duo is together, of course, and everything is well......
I personally love funny stories with happy ending very much but I was not sure in the end if I wouldn't like to have a pickled cucumber.
Aoyagi by Ryou Tamaki is that average 'sarariman' doing his job diligently. Suddenly transferred from sales to ballet producing? Not a problem. They still think in Japan that a good worker should try everything in every section and be ready for anything. Doesn't matter he doesn't know anything about ballet - he just needs to learn... Despite - or thanks to this story flaw - I don't know which one it is, but Aoyagi was the same good guy till the end. Maybe the best thing I learned from him was that Natsume Soseki translated 'I love you' as 'tonight moon is beautiful', because the Japanese prefer indirect speaking.
By the way, I noticed that in the original Aoyagi's wife was not dead from cancer but rather simply left him. As for me, I'd rather leave this fact as it was in the book. At least it would add some nuances to Aoyagi's character.
Young ballet dancer Minami by Reika Manaki was your avegare cute and positive, slightly dumb girl. Only slightly... Well, they like it very much in Japan when the girl doesn't get it when she is confessed to. And it was even cute, when performed by Chapi. And still, what else can we expect from such dull characters, even if they are played by the Top duo.
Probably Miya's ballet star Takano was the only noticeable character in the story. The proud celebrity with his own stance and views, moreover with character development not much seen in anyone else in the story. I was waiting so much that he would attack his cute trainer and supporter, Yui, by Mitsuki Umino. This is probably bordering on an otome's fantasies, but what can I do if Rurika is not only a good actress but also such a hot thing too. For want of hotness in all other characters, I guess I would be happy if she attacked just any girl on the stage... But I had to be satisfied at least with the fact that Takano invited Yui to be his trainer and manager in Europe.
Speaking of the much desired hotness, at least Hayate Uzuki as the pop-group leader Akutsu was trying to add some, and I'm sure she would if her time on stage was not so limited. I'm not sure if it's right to measure the quality of a performance by the level of 'presence', but Uzuki's presence was big and one cannot ignore it. Even the scene where her character simply apologizes for his fellow band member was more impressive than many other longer scenes.
The same goes for Yurino Touka as ballet teacher Noa. Her role was small but she was good in it and even managed to pull some gags. Both Seri Ayazuki and Ruu Kozuki were also good as the wise company head and the funny manager who was constantly getting angry but in the end turned to be the only one 'restructured' - away from the company for good.
Wakaba Saotome as Sara was not really impressive to my taste. Chisei Akatsuki was not either, but at least she did some beautiful pas during the 'Swan lake' play within a play.
Kanato Tsukishiro........ Now here is something to think about. I didn't like her in 'All for one', but I admitted it might have been my personal prejudice. In 'Company' however I totally forgot about her existence in the Troupe and only noted how bad Nayuta was performing and singing. Even then I didn't recognise her. Finally I recalled she must have been somewhere in the Troupe, and by process of elimination I guessed it must have been her. Even then I didn't believe it and even double checked the role list. So, yes, she was really bad. Her acting was flat and all the important moments looked too deliberate, and her part in the 'Barbarian' band performance was not very good. While I could tolerate some other actresses I don't like, when it comes to Tsukishiro I cannot help thinking what she is doing in this troupe, and why.
And just one actress I would like to mention is a girl whom I didn't recognise and whom I really will have to check on! One of the ballet dancers was given a short aria when Aoyagi came to the school, and that was just a-w-e-s-o-m-e.
I also must praise that actresses acting as ballet dancers were actually performing ballet on the stage, and Manaki was even standing en pointes.
'Baddy'
probably compensated for everything lacking in 'Company'. This is the case when the revue is better than the first half.
A not-so-short summary (and yes, this revue has that what can be summarised):
On Earth, in a kingdom where all people are good and go to heaven after death, the prince and the princess of the royal family are admiring the Moon through a telescope, even though Moon is a big prison. They notice an explosion, which was supposedly caused by a notorious criminal called Baddy and his company of 'bad guys' (he is Baddy because he is bad, but you've surely noticed how this word reminds of 'buddy', a friend, colleague or member of a company). The policewoman, Goody, is looking after peace of Earth together with her supporters, including a broken-hearted guy who seeks her attention. When a quarrel is about to happen between the king and the queen, Goody helps settle it. Then, Baddy arrives with his followers, including his Sweetheart of an unknown sex (just when you think whether it be him or her, the characters explain that it's impossible to tell - and you settle down with it, haha). They start their adventures by breaking the ban on smoking. Goody tries to arrest Baddy several times, the most prominent one - during a presentation of seafood, where she pretends to be a scallop... o___O In a skirmish one of Baddy's followers is wounded, but the princess lends him her handkerchief, which marks the start of their relationship. Goody's friend ends up in the Baddy's quarters, where he learns evil and discovers his talent for passport forging. The bad guys sing and dance explaining how to be bad by extorting money from rich women, with some of them successful, some - not so much, and one of the followers, meeting the kind-hearted princess, refusing to take any money at all. When trying to capture Baddy, Goody learns about her friend changing sides, she then leaves the main target be and pursues her friend. Baddy suddenly realises he is offended by this, meanwhile Sweetheart notices this growing interest of Baddy and grieves he is no longer the 'dynamic and dangerous' man she (he?) admired. The royal family makes a deal with aliens about keeping some valuables in their bank, this decision overheard by Baddy. He then reminds himself he is kinda bad and decides to steal the treasure. Wearing a wig and pretending to be one of the aliens, he lures the code from another banker and removes the whole safe together with the prince and the princess on the platform. Goody, who was about to fall for Baddy's charm, realises she feels humiliated and outraged by this, and decides to pursue the bad company to another planet where they have fled. After a large-scale fight the children are rescued, but the friend of Goody is shot. He dies in the arms of Sweetheart, who says he is the real 'dynamic and dangerous' guy. All others manage to escape, but Goody and Baddy, though stick with their principles, cannot let go of each other, and it is said they never returned from that planet. Some time later they are seen in heaven, where Baddy finds himself surprised to be, and upon hearing the fact he hurries up to start smoking. By the way, the role of the cigarettes is played by the indispensable shan-shan.
If you could help me find the right word to describe it, I would appreciate it, but for the lack of it I should call it 'trippy'. The fantasy setting, the crazy costumes, the weird concept of all the characters, the bad Baddy and the cute Goody, and androgynous Sweetheart, the grey-faced aliens-bankers, the good guy suddenly discovering his talent for forging passports, the dance of the seafoods... The number with Goody and cancan girls dancing to the song describing her hatred and determination was one of the best musumeyaku numbers I have seen in my life. And finally, the energetic otokoyaku dance and passionate dance of the Top combi make up greatly for the dullness of the musical. If you wanted hotness here is some. One important correction: I don't and I never will recognise Tamaki as a cool character or a 'bad' one. Villainous villains are out of her way. The first half of the show was partially unclear to me until I saw some development in Baddy that led to the ending as it was.
To my relief, there were good songs and melodies in the revue, and singing of all performers was very good with some parts really difficult. Now that I recall the revue, it was probably the most strange, unusual, unique revues I've seen - and I like it! The costumes were also different from what you'd expect, and I insist they were very beautiful.
It's not very good, maybe, that I haven't been watching much of Takarazuka lately, but this gap enabled me to appreciate how Tamaki and Chapi have grown as performers - as actors, as dancers, and as singers, which impressed me most.
p. s. I must mention Rurika's Sweetheart again. With every performance I respect her more and more. While I didn't like her face very much it might have influenced my general opinion of her, but her charisma reaches the farthest rows of seats so easily, her characters stand out so much, her presence is so big that I started to feel admiration for her without realising it.
If I could have a ticket for half price and see only the revue, I would go to watch 'Baddy' again!
