IMHO. Moon Troupe's 'Company' and 'Baddy'

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!

'PUCK' & 'Crystal Takarazuka' ~ how to make your friend a Takarazuka fan

First of all, this is what I learnt from a friend working in the Grand Theatre. Though this is the order in which I learnt the facts, it is also an attempt to think it over while I'm writing.

1. The next Top Star of the Star will be miss Hokushou. That's no news for anybody who follows Takarazuka's life. The reason miss Makaze (or miss Kurenai?) was not chosen is that she doesn't look handsome enough and there are people who dislike their appearance.

2. On the contrary, Mirio is very beautiful. I can't disagree, because I like her type of appearance very much, too, though I wouldn't really compliment that in first place, like my friend did. The Japanese really do care a lot about a sienne's face.

3. And the reason why miss Hokushou is to become the Star's Top only now is that though she was originally popular in Moon, she couldn't become a Top because there was miss Ryuu, a daughter to a rich family. That's why they let miss Hokushou escape to Superiors and wait there for a while. That's what the rumour says, but even though a rumour, it is a very certain one.

4. It is a common-spread thing that the Tops are there not 'accidentally'. The only ones among the recent Top Stars who achieved their position thanks to their ability are miss Sou from Snow and miss Ranju from Flower.

5. Moreover, miss Ryuu has a high voice which makes many spectators regret that she's not manly enough.

6. Moreover, Moon Troupe as a whole is also bad at singing. They have bad pronounciation, too, which makes elder visitors of the Theatre complain sometimes that they couldn't understand what the actresses were saying.

I wonder why it is exactly mss Ranju and Sou for whom my admiration is limited to respect only, because they really failed to capture my heart even once.

Not that I thought that they are really allowed to become a Top for free. But it kinda... hurts. I mean, I could agree if I heard that a Top-Star-to-be, already chosen by her skills, is asked to make a 'small contribution'. Not vice versa.

1) Puck

Story and characters

There's nothing to say. Puck is one of my favourite musicals in Zuka, because it's so funny, so strange and so touching. And because of Suzukaze Mayo, too, because she created all that initial impression of the musical itself.

It happened so that both musicals we saw were based on Shakespeare's plays. Very loosely... And even though Shakespeare is not my cup of tea, I wouldn't mind drinking 'Puck' again (how was that? a nice phrase I made huh?).

Acting

Now comes the main part. *taking deep breath*

I was not very happy when I heard miss Ryuu would play Puck. It wasn't her type, I thought. It was for Suzukaze, it wasn't for Ryuu. She was still that villain Jacques in my mind. She could do Romeo credibly, too, I thought.

Everything changes with the first note that she utters after appearing on stage. She's not a bad copy of Suzukaze. She isn't a completely new version ruining the original charm of the character. She's just another Puck. Cute Puck. Mischievous Puck. Then suffering Puck. Then poor Puck. Then kind, good boy Puck. My Japanese friend said that 'Puck' is a 'very-happy-ending' enjoyable musical. I wonder if that counts as a 'very happy end', but it's not a tragedy either.

And what can I say? I don't agree that they are bad at singing. Puck's aria or Hermia's song, or just one number of Tytania meeting Bobby - sung by mss Touka and Tamaki - is enough to hear that.

I didn't feel it was hard to understand them, either. My friend would say that's because I'm young and have no problems with hearing, but I'm not Japanese and still only a small percentage of words stay incomprehensible to me when I try to write the script down.

I can't say they are bad actresses. When miss Miya starts joking about her billiard playing being so unusual because of the Christmas Eve, and you understand that's obviously ad lib because it IS the Christmas Eve, when Puck looks at his hands that have just touched Hermia's, when both guys fall in love with Helen after Puck cast a spell on them, it may touch you, or it may fail to do so, but it's the real acting.

I was actually sad and distressed when I heard all those things from my friend. However, it doesn't matter anymore. It's not important anymore, because this I know for sure: after coming to the hotel at midnight having travelled with a heavy bag and getting lost while trying to go to a convenient store, after a difficult getting up in the morning, and after even the breakfast failed to make me feel energetic, it was the Moon Troupe that fixed me. 

Music
It was 90s. A time drowning in pop'n'rock. If you listen to Masao's voice when she sings the first song after Puck was born, or to 'Growing up', or to 'Just say dance tonight', you'll hear Okui Masami, Shiina Hekiru, Mazda Julia in there. (upd: I've just read that 'Midsummer Eve' was specially written by Matsutoya Yumi, so you'll probably hear her there, too)

2) 'Crystal Takarazuka'
I'd say it wasn't the best show I've ever seen. It didn't become my favourite either. I didn't even buy the CD. First of all, I was a bit disappointed by the main theme. It was not bad, it was as energetic, GENKI, as always, but I can't help comparing it with 'Dance Romanesque'. And it lost.
Other than that, I really liked one number, the one about marionettes, except for the fact it doesn't have a happy ending >___<
Still, I enjoyed very much both the dolls dancin' part and the duo dance, coupled by... Coldplay. Wow. Takarazuka even borrows things like that...

The other two pieces I recognised were 'Bamboleo' by Tamaki Ryou

and 'Misirlou' used in the fight between Coppelius and mr Detective, just before 'Viva la vida'

the latter, I must confess, I only recognised thanks to it being used in The Black Eyed Peas' song 'Pump It' (had to google for it).
I guess I could also recognise the 'gypsy' main theme, but it appears to be a bit hard to find how it's called. I'm also pretty sure the otokoyaku stairs dance was accompanied by a variation on some classical piece, but I just can't remember what it is.
If you ask me what seat to choose when buying tickets with a limited budget, I'd say - buy A seats on the balcony, row #8 in the Grand Theatre and #7 in Tokyo. It's the first row after a wide aisle connecting the right and the left sides of the balcony. Why those seats? Haha. Try yourself.
By the way, I was sitting 2 rows behind, and still the impression was deep.
I mean, just a metre away from Chinami Karan or Kanoha Toki giving high five to those who were sitting in front of them...
I guess I spilt it out.
And the point I cannot miss - Top Combi. It was the first time I've seen the current Combi and I was afraid I'd dislike it, but I was wrong. I think I might like them less if I saw them earlier, when they were still not 'used' to each other, but now they are a good couple. I like it extremely how Reika looks at Ryuu whenever possible - in all dances where she has at least some interaction with her, and even during the dancing numbers in the Grand Sports Day. If KiriMari were an unusual Combi, then Reika is a very typical nice, tender, cute musumeyaku. And why don't I hate her? Probably because she's very natural, with no shadow of showing-off, no attempts to make the audience actually notice how she's trying to behave in a cute way, and first of all, because there is no part of her body she'd spare for her performance, not a single piece of her soul she's not laying down on a tray to present to the audience. She gives all she has to those who watch her, and I can see that. The one thing that still bothers me is that they're not as close as I wish them to be in, like, Top Combi duet dance, etc. After 2 years together I'd like them to be clinging to each other, and they still aren't.
As for the young siennes who made their appearance in the usual 'boys band singing and dancing number' in the middle of the show, I can't really understand well why Ryou is so promoted, especially on part of her vocals. She's a good girl and she'll do well, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed her voice very much. I also feel sorry for mss Uzuki and Shimon who are not getting as much attention than they used to, and whom I would really praise for her vocals in this 'pop group' is ms Akatsuki.
Apart from them, my favourite vocalists would be mss Seijou and Saou. I'd drown in their voices...

Conclusion

How to make your friend a Zuka fan? Try to guess. Well, she's into musicals in general. And she is interested in what a 'revue' is like in Japan. Still, she wouldn't watch what you tell her 'just because'.

And then you just take her with you to see it live.

upd. after watching the dvd version

- Puck, get on this swing
- can I, lord Oberon?
- of course, it's made-to-order for you!
- wow thanks!
- and now fly up!
- fly-fly, shrimp-fry!
- it's not THAT fry...
- oops...
- now be gone with the wind!
- ok, I'll think about that tomorrow!

- huh? why is there no applause?

translation! Tsukigumo no Miko ~ ohhhh...

I wonder if I am the only one whom 'Tsukigumo no Miko' tells nothing. I don't know any stories with such name and Google left me the same I was before I tried to search for something

in such distempered times there is no other choice than to revert to the original

from the official website

Bow Roman 'tsukigumo no miko' 

-from the legend of Sotoori-hime-

there seems to be no such words as 'tsukigumo', so we are left to guess. the literal translation would be 'moon cloud'. it actually doesn't make any sense to me even in this variant. for the sake of justice I must mention translating it into Russian would be even more inconvenient. the only variant I can offer is that the life of the characters is as dark as a night when a 'cloud' covers the 'moon'

what do you thing 'miko' is? were you mistaken by this word's reading? did you think, like me, that the story would revolve around a shrine priestess? haha. 'miko' here stands for 'child of the emperor'. the same kanji read as 'ouji' would also mean 'crown prince' - shame on me, I didn't know these two words are written the same >___<

therefore, what we have as the result is something like 'The Prince of Moon Cloud -from the legend of Princess Sotoori-'

among the search results by 'Sotoori-hime' I only found 1 link with at least some explanation of who this princess was. here 'tis - but even this brief info doesn't tell much. for lack of such, let us dwell into the Zuka explanation

Princess Sotoori legend is included into 'Records of Ancient Matters' (known as 'Kojiki' - translator's note) and 'Nihon-shoki' as the greatest love poem. Imperial court at the dawn of Yamato, beautiful prince and princess fall in a forbidden love, and, exiled, commit double suicide. Hidden in this heartbreaking story is...

Kinashinokaru-no-miko (the prince - translator's note), who gained popularity by his refreshing image and kindness, and his brave younger brother, Anaho-no-miko, who was his rival in succeeding the throne, had a beautiful 'younger sister'. Soon the dark clouds of history cast a shadow on their unclouded adolescence. What Kinashinokaru-no-miko saw at the ends of the place of his exile is...

The sorrows of the people who were swallowed by the flow of history at the dawn of the new Japan, which was forming its statehood after the ancient chaos, and the reality of this 'story' are shaped into a dramatic (here, 'dramatic' as 'stage' - translator's note) performance. This performance will be Ueda Kumiko's Bow debut.
_____

translator's notes

1. double suicide - or lovers' suicide - is truly a widespread and well-known phenomenon in ancient Japan. I admit that. however, I already dislike this concept. sad stories are ok, suicide is not. I didn't like 'My Love Lies...' because of that, too
2. and incest theme. are you kidding??? this is not even funny
3. so, nihonmono? and Tamaki in it? apparently, very strong musumeyaku and second otokoyaku are needed for the roles of Sotoori and Anaho. Sakihi-chan and Akizuki? erm...
4. and this for Bow Hall? I thought Bow should be a place for experiments and innovations... how is this very typical sad Japanese story a innovation..? 'Spring Snow' was also a sad story and was based on a Japanese novel, but the novel was not ancient and traditional one, and the setting was beautiful, so 'twas much closer to the concept of 'the leading edge of Takarazuka performances'. I am a bit disappointed with 'Tsukigumo'

new Moon musicals ~ will I ever be satisfied, huh?

so, MeMy again. by extremely young Moonies. erm... I wonder if they will be able to do it... no, I mean, this time the choice of the musical is good, but couldn't it wait just a little? both the roles there are not all of young people, and the level will be extremely high. I am also pretty sure MeMy requires a good lot of ad lib. or doesn't it? whatever, just I doubt MasaMiriChapi are mature enough... especially after the brilliant Sena-sama, Ayano-sama and Kiriya-sama version

and Bow with... Tamaki. ok, so she's been promoted visibly. Uzuki and Shimon can abandon their hopes. their shinjinkouens didn't impress Zuka administration as much, I guess? 

in the end, if I saw young Kiriya-sama, would I fall in love with her the same I am now? maybe Tamaki will grow? what do I know about her to dislike her like this? can I base my opinion on the only fact that she is moving to the top too fast?

these points need thinking over and patience, patience and patience

translation! ~ RomiJuri first performance

things to be aware of

• spoilers in the article! if there are people who have never read the book, or watched any movie or musical based on it, this article will ruin everything for you. I actually doubt there are such people, though
• information! or, better to say, lack of it. most info is either already provided in other articles (including those I translated), or presents common knowledge, though there are a few words about the show
• pictures. unfortunately, not many of them this time. I will search for more for sure, but that will be later

the original article

The curtain has raised for the first musical of the New Moon Troupe of Takarazuka Revue - 'Romeo and Juliette'

On the 22nd of June, the curtain has raised for the first musical of the New Moon Troupe of Takarazuka Revue - 'Romeo and Juliette'. This performance marks the new system of Moon Troupe - Ryuu Masaki as Top Star, Manaki Reika as Top Female Role Player and Asumi Rio as Demi-Top Star.

The musical is based on the original work of Shakespeare - a famous love story, and it involves music with a rock taste, modern clothes and installation, the music, lyrics and direction having been created in France by Gerard Presgurvic. The musical, which was first performed in France in 2001, was then performed in almost every country of the world and gained an audience of more than 5 000 000 people. In Japan it was prettified and directed by hit-maker Koike Shuuichirou in Takarazuka, and first performed by selected members of Star Troupe. The next year, 2011, the Grand Theatre version was performed by Snow Troupe, and the Moon Troupe version will become the third one.

This time one of the points about the performance is that Romeo, the leading role, and Tybald, the villain role, will be switching roles for Ryuu and Asumi. On the opening day Ryuu is playing Romeo, while Asumi is Tybald. The new potential is shown by two Superior Members - Ema Naoki and Miho Keiko - and Miya Rurika who has just transferred from Star Troupe.

The peculiarity of the Takarazuka version is that in addition to the symbol of the musical - 'Dancer of Death' (Tamaki Ryou) - a role of 'Dancer of Love' was established (Akizuki Saya). These two proclaim the beginning of a story of love and death.

The story tells us about two noble families in Verona, Italy - Montague and Capulet. They have been nurturing hatred towards each other for centuries, so that even the youth is involved. Meanwhile, the heir of the Montague family, Romeo (Ryuu), and the daughter of the Capulet family, Juliette (Manaki), meet at a masquerade and fall in love at first sight. The two, whose first love develops swiftly, open their hearts to Father Florence (Ema), and with the help of Juliette's nurse (Miho) hold a secret marriage ceremony. 

Juliette's elder cousin, Tybald (Asumi), has been attracted to Juliette for a long time, but Lord Capulet (Koshino Ryuu) is going to accept the marriage proposal of the richest person in Verona - Count Paris (Shimon Yuriya). At the same time, the rumours about the marriage ceremony of Romeo and Juliette start to spread, and Tybald encounters Romeo's best friends, Mercutio (Miya) and Benvolio (Seijou Kaito), and others in the city, this leading to an explosive situation. Romeo interferes to stop them, but Mercutio is stabbed by Tybald, and Romeo kills Tybald in a frenzy. 

Romeo is banished forever from Verona, and after spending a night with Juliette, he leaves for Mantua when the dawn breaks. Juliette, who is coerced to marry Count Paris, prays Father Florence to help her, and obtains a medicine that would make her sleep so that she would look as if dead. It was planned that she would escape from the city with Romeo when she wakes up, but the plan fails. Romeo, who hears of Juliette's death, meets with her in the burial chamber, and drinks the poison, and when Juliette wakes up, she sees Romeo lying dead, and stabs herself in the chest. The two, who reached their love at the cost of their lives, thus made the two families come to a reconciliation, and together with the Dancers of Death and Love they swear an eternal love in Heaven...

The finale is created with audaciously arranged numbers, such as the theme songs 'Kings of the World' and 'Aimer'. After rockette dance in tutus designed with a heart on the breast, in the male role players dance the dandy figure of Ryuu on the Grand Staircase appears together with a lady, proceeding to the debut Top Combi dance, and then to Parade, where Ryuu descends the Grand Staircase wearing huge feathers which mark the Top Star.

The performance will continue till July, 23rd, in Takarazuka Grand Theatre, and take place in Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre from August, 8th, to September, 9th.

_____
remarks

1. anybody can tell me where are Chapi's legs on the second photo (obviously Top Combi dance)? 
2. anybody can tell Zuka to be less greedy? I can't! such small photos... >____<
3. anybody can tell me what for the plot and trivial facts are put in the article? moreover, I noticed this too late. and after I have translated everything (which took me quite a while) I can only ask myself... WHAT FOR? 90% of the info absolutely irrelevant. this is why I put a warning on the top of the post
4. anybody can tell me if 'tis wrong to name Juliet - 'Juliette'? I cannot help writing like this... I mean, in French she IS 'Juliette', and in Russian she is 'Julyetta' - even writing Capulet cost me a lot of efforts (instead of 'Capuletti'), but while I coped with the family name, writing 'Juliet' is kind of impossible for me...
5. finally, my impression. at least, the Moon's version of RomiJuri is slightly different from the previous ones, and I am a bit relieved. this is not a 100% copy of Snow and Star, and that's good

link. Takarazuka Oldies Takarazuka Natsumero Song

http://www.tca-pictures.net/shop/press/111026_oldies.html

W$%*)Q!)*#$!!!

that was an attempt to express how I want  this CD... and the fact that I ignored it completely when I went to Quatre Reves in April

Manaki-sama participating with 'mamotte agetai', which I heard in Onitsuka Chihiro's version but which turned out to be a song by my dear Matsutoya Yumi-san. and Reika-chan will sing it in three voices. and that is just *_____*

and of course Ryuu-sama Ryou-san will be great, though I do not know the songs they are to sing... still, the original versions sound great!

and Yamaguchi Momoe-san's 'playback' will be covered by Konohana Inori. WOW, musumeyaku singing such a song!

Off Course's 'ai o tomenaide' will be covered by Ayashiro Rea. I do not like this song very much, but 'tis a nice choice for Zuka cover album

just.... just... @)W*%#)*% again

well. stop this flood of signs. I want this CD. ok. it costs 3300 yen in usual edition and 5000 yen with DVD. ok. and I also want a lot of discs with Kiriya-sama. ok. so....... wait. WHAT AM I DOING???

I SHOULD BE TRANSLATING NOW TO HAVE AT LEAST MONEY TO BUY THEM!!! instead I am pitying myself again. stupid me!

my humble opinion on Aono-sama's Music Salon 'Very Best of Me'

hey, the guys were dancing to the 'Tank!' from 'Cowboy Bebop'! ^___^

oh, I should say one thing again! I would not be able to watch this if not for the community
therefore, my thanks flies there

dancing

nobody would ever doubt Aono-sama's dancing skills, so there is no need to describe her dancing numbers 

singing

well, to be serious, meseems all the 5 Moon members came to the stage without warming up to singing. the first part of the show was so-so. however, the closer to the end, the more successful it grew

starting with the part where she sang solo her songs from different performances, she was absolutely brilliant

her 'hitokakera no yuuki' literally sent shivers down my arms while she lasted the last note

'kotoba ni dekinai' made me cry. the tenderness and strength combined in her were so acute that I could not help crying

she said in her farewell address that she was sometimes described as 'manly', and she was bothered by it. I cannot disagree with this statement. but she also said she realized 'twas her own way of being musumeyaku. and I completely agree with it

yes, she looked great in pantsuit, you know. it suited her. meseems, she is the only one musumeyaku who can wear trousers, among those I know. no offence, 'tis completely ok if a person has his own style. I do admire cute little, or not little, musumeyaku in girly dresses. I am just saying that how Aono-sama is different, at least for me

trousers do not mean that those 3 magnificent long dresses Aono-sama wore looked bad, no. the pink one was doubtful but ok, the blue-violet one was very beautiful, and the last one, the pure white, was simply gorgeous. I may be biased, well yes, I am, but the dress again a was much simpler and 'serious' than than that given to musumeyaku usually. perhaps, knowing her own style, Aono-sama was not very happy when she got dressed in the white-black dress for Revue 2011 (magazine) photo session... well, again, I admired Aono-sama in white

and the last song, which was written specially for Aono-sama by Koyanagi-sensei and Teshima-sensei, was... was drowned in my tears, which were on the keyboard, on the mouse, on the table, on the plate I just used which was standing in front of me, just everywhere. fortunately having no one but me at home I could cry to my heart's content, if 'tis possible to say this about tears

the others also surprised me

first, though the start was not successful, I could reassert that Uzuki has a very nice voice, which reminds me of Masao's voice BTW

Sachika-chan was so very cute when she spoke, that I was surprised that her singing voice was completely different, sonorous and even ear-piercing

Tamaki-san was much better than I expected. my unfair treatment of her receded and yielded to respect towards her image, which seems to me to be one of the most manly among all the otokoyaku in the Troupe

and Reika-chan! proved her cuteness and also proved to be a good singer. I was worried that a former otokoyaku may seem too unexperienced in singing, while acting and dancing seem to me a bit easier to learn when the role is changed, but Manaki-san was ok. I hope her Top Combi and Demi-Top Combi (well, how shall I call it?) will be ok

again, thank you, Aono-sama. you were such an unusually strong and shining Top Musumeyaku. your characters were never ordinary, you added your own charm and your own kind of beauty to all of them. you have been special, at least to me

my little thoughts on RomiJuri 2012

I have to face the fact that Moon is changing, and not only the things like Top, n-bante will be different from April, 23rd, but also the other roles

of course, I still adore many of the Moon, but I need time to get used to this new structure

and of course, RomiJuri is not a performance which settles the positions once and forever, but at least I should try to draw some conclusions
Ema-sama, Koshino-sama and Hanase-sama are quite predictable in their roles

I was slightly surprised seeing Touka-san as a mother of Capulet. well, taking into account the time she spent in the troupe, she is probably moving to the 'next category'. though the lady was obviously quite young - remember the times when RomiJuri takes place. still, the role is of a certain kind. well, if I liked RomiJuri in general, I would wish for no better Capulet mother than Touka-san
Seijou-san as Benvolio is not something I clearly imagine, but that would be an interesting thing to see especially after her very credible Ernest in 'Edward VIII', a womanizer and quite a greedy person, as I see him
Miya-san is cute. everybody acknowledges that. I do, too. almost every time I saw her photo I thought how cute she is. this, however, does not say anything about her acting skills, and I never ever noticed her on the stage as an actress with particularly memorable ability. seeing her transferred to Moon I wonder if she is going to merge with Moon or be the odd one out. hope my fear is groundless and my feeling is a usual jealousy
Shimon-san as Paris. well, I believe she would cope with this task successfully, but I still cannot understand her fast promotion while my favourite Sawaki-chan being so unnoticed. well, yes, this love for her is unexplainable and I should face the inevitable retiring of hers and cheer up for Shimon impartially. when she comes closer to the center spot I shall see her clearly and I hope she will prove to be a good actress
Tamaki-san will be a great Death, I am sure. though I almost hate her even more for her even faster promotion than that of Shimon-san. only 4 years and already 2 shinjinkouens. well, I did not see her, I cannot judge about her, I should not claim she does not deserve this. this is just my internal anxiety, which will not subside no matter how I try to suppress it
Akizuki-san as Love. I am sorry... this tall and strong girl as Love? erm... is this an attempt to show that Love is not that fragile and it will win for sure? o___O
the inevitable process of promotion and growth, change and surprises... I should have the strength to accept this
I shall only pray that everything goes smooth and everybody is successful in their roles