glitra: (Sabrina - David Fangirls)
 *wipes dust off* 

Oh.... yeah... this is a thing~! 

As I've fallen back into fandom I guess I should post stuff here.... again. 

glitra: (Ran-chan Christine)
A writes words about shows after half a bottle of wine .. part 1 / ??? 


So I snagged tickets to Elisabeth. Or should I say that S snagged tickets to Elisabeth for us.. Really NICE tickets. Which means she didn't look at what cast we would be seeing, which originally had me disappointed. We had tickets to see B cast, but they turned out to be GOLD tickets leading to the biggest problem I've had since Madoka circa 2k15. Yeah... that Big. Why, you may ask yourself. Well, our day just happened to be one of the days Miyaruri was out sick.

Here is the cast I saw:
🌙
Franz Joseph... Tsukishiro Kanato
Lucheni... Kazama Yuno
Rudolph... Akatsuki Chisei
Elemer...Ren Tsukasa
Stephan... Sena Ayaoto
🌙

I have to say that overall this production was lukewarm for me. But, if I am completely honest, Elisabeth is always lukewarm for me, especially in the fall. Mostly because I think Takarazuka has overdone it to death, and because it has a lot of unpleasant associations with it due to a good friends death. But this production, despite having NO time to rehearse the understudies, was still really good. If you didn't know that CALAMITY had struck, then you would have never guessed that this was a hobbled together emergency cast. 

Anyway, Tamakichi was a solid Todd. I have such a hit/miss relationship with Tamakichi. Some shows I find her young, endearing and the golden retriever-esque boyfriend I wish I had. Other times she lands so flat and misses so many notes, but just the barest smidge... so close that I want to scream " ARE YOU EVEN TRYING!!! FOR FUCKS SAKE!!". But this show was a solid middle ground. Her Death was nothing to write home for me, although I adore the costume choices they made. She wears it well, when she misses those notes by a smidge you can forgive her because singing her heart out as Death every day has lent her a husk in her voice, which makes it work. Even with the husk lending her its power, I do have compliment the clear amount of work she has put into her voice for this show. You can hear it. I hope she uses everything she learned for ON THE TOWN. Oh she also gave up on the curls on the side of the wig. Which like, made me like it more. I knew from the promo shots that those 

Chapi played it better than expected. It has a different vibe than the previous versions because when it opens you don't have the overplayed, overacted child-like Sisi setting the stage for the play. You watch an older, but more charming and wistful young adult come out. I am 200 percent behind this change. Elisabeth wasn't 12 when she went off to get her sister married off. She was 15, and I think it makes her desire to run off and join the gypsy even that more compelling, not childish fantasy, more a teenagers desire to escape the world prescribed for her by her position and her mother. At first it felt jarring, and I had a knee-jerk reaction of NO, which is ingrained from knowing Takarazuka's Elisabeth intimently. But the farther into the scene it went the more I liked it. She showed the power and poise of a musumeyaku of her power and her rank throughout the entire production. She had the ending to a wonderful career that I wish Mirion would have taken. Something WORTHY of her. But I can't fault Mirion for doing what she did, even if it surprised everyone. 

Reiko. Reiko as Franz was just so... boring. Like, I don't find Reiko particularly enthralling on a good day, and without her playing Lucheni (which I was excited for, btw) she lacked any real -vague hand gestures-. Franz is boring. Reiko still remains boring to me. I think she played it a cool cucumber in terms of not showing her nervousness, although it came out in a few bits of Franz's more iconic songs. . I still am waiting for her to impress me. So far no luck. 

The MVP for me was def Lucheni, with Kazama Yuno reprising her shinko role in the honkouen. Holy shit, this child is an attractive human shaped lump of RAW TALENT. She sings, she dances, she acts. If you wouldn't have known she was a ken 5 playing a role normally played by a ken 11 you would have never guessed. She has stolen my heart. I can't pinpoint when it happened either. During Act I, I was solidly impressed by her skills, but somewhere at the end of act II she just... leapt over my expectations. And then she came down the stairs in the finale in a place she normally would NOT be and ROCKED the FUCK out of the otokoyaku dance. I just... -heart eyes-  her floppy hair. I have spent the last week slowly consuming all media with her in it, and every time I think I will find something that will kill how attractive and into her whole thing I am. I haven't yet. We are not acknowledging the douki thing. We just aren't... okay? okay.  

Ari was Rudolph. Solid choice. Solid dancing. Lukewarm acting. Much the same I have come to expect from her. I keep wishing she would hit a point and raise the bar, instead of just jumping over the mediocre bar she has set up for herself. Maybe next time. 

I wasn't a fan of Touka Yurino as Sophie. Which is 200 percent to do with her voice, not her acting or her choices. In fact, she brought a sense of indulgence to Sophie which I found new and refreshing. When Franz shoots the statue and shows it to her nods, but then when he turns around she smiles indulgently and walks away. It brings a side of Sophie I would like to see more of. I think Sophie often gets played as the bad guy, all for the sake of the country. But I think she could be played just as forceful because the success of her country is the success of her beloved son. 

Oh. Last big thing here, before I give up any attempt at continuing this. This was The Worst Finale Remix I think I have ever heard. The 1970's called and they want their Barry Manilow remix of Elisabeth back. Which is such a fucking SHAME, because the choreography is rocking and everyone gave it 200 percent more than usual. Like, Musumeyaku with thigh slits up to... shameless... while groping Tamakichi?? yes??? A pair dance which starts with a little bit of a passionate hate-fuck vibe. I am very here for all of it. My new Problem coming down the stairs and ROCKING it... My problem coming down in the Parade??? Yes... I am so here for it. 

Oh lord. I'm falling into tsukigumi so hard. Help.. please. somebody. 

glitra: (Ran-chan Christine)
We have announcements... finally... Two weeks too late if you ask me.

I knew something hinky was going on when we didn't get the announcements together. I worried Tom would slide into soragumi again and take it for some disastrous twirl at that Drama City / Seinenkan slot. And I wasn't half wrong.

She half slide in. She'll be doing Papa, I Love You, (which is based off It Runs in The Family) in Bow hall at the same time as the other soragumi shows. Meaning, no doubt that she will steal part of our troupe. According to my research this show takes 11 people, so she'll be stealing 10 people from our ranks to make it work. Unless she takes some senka people, but I don't know how likely that is. We all know how Tom would rather work with Infants who do All The Heavy Lifting.

In terms of the other shows, I know haven't written about Dark Brown Eyes / Viva! Disappointment! I mean... Viva Festa. I think this is such an expected and boring show choice for such an interesting (and out of the way) theatre. Viva! Festa! wasn't particularly memorable the first go around, and making it smaller can't improve the show itself... sadly. Do not get me started on what an awful taidan show this was for Mirion *pulls out long list of complaints* I can and I will write a novel if anyone wants it. *looks around* okay then *shoves list back into it's pocket* And paired with Dark Brown Eyes, which I am watching as I type this up. I just.... want better choices, I guess. So far the lead is completely unmemorable except two very cute outfits in the beginning. And with soragumi being split three ways, I think the casting is going to make or break for this production. Who will play Pugachov? The nibante role. Kiki will be off leading her own angst fest.... Will it be Ai-chan? Will it be a last hurrah for Akki? Who despite everyone's expectations keeps hanging in through retirement announcement after retirement announcement. Personally, I am hoping it is Ai-chan mostly because I don't want to have to spend my little disposable income on going to Fukuoka to see this show. A boring musumeyaku role, and a shitty show for the top musumeyaku. Frankly, not interested. Don't get me wrong, Madoka will SLAY Masha, but there is frankly only so much you can do with it. Polish a turd it is still a turd... all that jazz, ya know.

Right now Kiki's show is much more intriguing. Kiki will be starring in "Die Räuber". Die Räuber, or "The Robbers" as it is known in English. This show looks like ANGST heaven, and I am so excited for Kiki to get something with some DRAMA in it to cut her considerable acting chops. I'm thinking she will either get Mineri or Aya as her partner, and hopefully Zun-chan as her nibante. In my fantasy world Tom will take Mineri because I consistently find her underwhelming, and she's obviously. And there is nothing Tom loves more than is groping Top Musumeyaku before the become Top Musumeyaku. That would probably leave Yumeshiro Aya as Kiki's partner, and she has me intrigued. I really want to know what she is capable of since I have missed most of her roles with an exception of Anybody. Which she did an AMAZING job of, if anyone was wondering.

Takarazuka.... bring me something joyful next. I want a Good Daisuke Revue for the GT... based off... Makaze's smoldering hip wiggles or something equally ridiculous.
glitra: (Ranju Tomu Bugs)
I was having lunch with an old friend of mine this weekend, and it struck me how I miss LJ as a way to talk about Takarazuka. I don't want to say I miss The Old LJ Days because I stayed away from that special circle of hell that was it during it's heyday. But I viscerally miss having conversations about the politics, the troupe dynamics, actresses... the thing that makes Takarazuka hold my attention even after 10 years of being around. I love twitter, and I have a love/hate relationship with tumblr. But I miss words, I miss conversations not limited to 240 character or tumblr, where any interaction is painful and unnecessarily complicated.

I wish there was someway to bring back a dreamwidth renaissance...
glitra: (Sabrina - David Fangirls)
Yes, I'm late (as always) to pop in here and update everyone on my thoughts.

Tanabata brought a slew of announcements. Really, if I'm honest it's like Hankyu peeked into my brain and decided to reward me for my solid dedication and financial support of their business for almost 10 years. Almost all of these announcements could be tied up they're with a purple ribbon and labeled "to Alex love Hankyu".

Number one, of course, being Makaze Suzuho and Hoshikaze Madoka are being made the top conbi of Soragumi. Makaze and Madoka 😳💕 It happened guys. I've somehow found myself in love with a musumeyaku, and a soon to be top one at that. I am over the moon that we weren't transferred somewhere or sent into Demi-top purgatory or some other Hankyu-fuckery. So Happy. She made it, and she made it in our troupe

✨💜 She's the first cosmos top musumeyaku to have originated in cosmos troupe 💜✨

In addition to that they shuffled Serika Toa from Hana to Sora. Which leaves her at the same rank, but gives her some opportunity to grow and flex her muscles. She's been getting such boring roles under Mirio that this move will only be better for her. She hit the level up button recently, but it's not showing as much in grand theatre productions. Not a lot of growth opportunity in the type of roles and productions that Mirio have been choosing.

If I'm honest though, I think this was mostly a move to throwing Aizuki Hikaru off the star track without losing as much face. She wasn't given the nibante title only to have it stripped away. This is clean and nice...so to speak. I'm a little bummed for Ai-chan personally, but also a little relieved she won't be shouldering a burden she's not ready to.

Personally, I'm thrilled with it all. Like, straight up, clap my hands in glee at this whole situation level of thrilled. Makaze and Kiki are just so well matched physically. Soragumi is dangerous now, but bring in Kiki? *fans self* Not to mention that their personality and how they present them self to the public they are totally different. Kiki is hyper aware of how she presents herself, and Makaze has this "that's cool bro. Whatever" vibe to her that I think will make watching them interesting.

We also see Amairo Mineri get transferred to Cosmos too. She's Madoka Douki and I fell in love with her princess eyes during the 2016 New Years countdown show. Voice like an angel, I'm excited to get to see her more frequently and really see what she can do.

All in all it was a lovely Tanabata. I so appreciate when things I want to remember line up with holidays. Last time I saw Tomu in Takarazuka? April 1st, start of the new year full Sakura blooming. The date Madoka was announced a Top Star? Tanabata 🎋

I'm happy. Even if I'm not going to be here in Japan to see it.
glitra: (Madoka - Aida)
I'm holding my breath until tonight. In case anyone is wondering.
glitra: (Ranju Tomu Bugs)
The show announcements just keep coming and I've been crap about writing my thoughts down. So here's a round up post!

❄️Snow ❄️
Revolutionary Maximilien Robespierre / SUPER VOYAGE! Daimon debuts at the grand theatre with a play and a show. Which makes me think the company is banking on her being the one to bring home the bacon for a bit. Which wouldn't surprise me, Chigi was the best selling top star they had in the docket and with her gone, and Maakun leaving and the Sora top remaining yet unknown... it's anyone's game. Mirio has never quite lived up to her hype of being the best seller. Which honestly, might partially be due to show choices. Especially this last one which is a hot mess. HOT MESS GUYS. Lord I am so ready to not to have to ever watch it again.

⭐️Star⭐️
Beni and Airi (Benri) will be doing Berlin, My Love. Nazis. Whoooo boy. If we could not that would be GREAT. But here we are again. Sorry, passing that until I can see it on skystage for free. Shout out to poor Kai fans who with the release of the poster image featuring Koto looking like a old time Nerdy Journalist are def gonna end up as a Nazi. Sorry guys.

Speaking of Beni, she gets the Taiwan tour in late 2018. Which means she won't be a short and sweet run despite literally everyone assuming that's what her run would be. Get it girl? I guess? I am curious as to what her next show will be. Will it be comedy? Or will she try and pretend she's a serious actress again?

🌷Flower🌷
Hanagumi has the horror that is Yamataikoku paired with the (predictably amazing) show Santé right now. Sadly, even a Daisuke themed show about WINE isn't good enough to wipe out 1h40m of awful.

After that ends they are split in half. Mirio will be doing Hanna's Florist and Yuzuka Rei will be doing "Haikara-san ga tooru" which I've started reading and I am highly enjoying. 12/10 on picking my type of crack here guys. I see what you are doing, and I like it.

Speaking of Haikara-san, the cast list is still not out. It's been like... heading towards week two I think? It's highly suspicious and the internet has been abuzz with rumors of transfers. I'm pretty sure they are gonna drop on Friday along with new top announcements and such. Yah, very excited for the new batch of fans to freak out at their first giant list of transfers :)

Then hana is lined up to do Poe no Ichizoku. Which is based off a manga by Moto Hagio. A two act Koike adaptation, defying the rumors of Mirio departure early next year. Although, honestly I wouldn't completely discard the concept yet. Eugh. I am not particularly keen on a two act Koike show for hanagumi, but I'll take what I can get. God give strength to the cast because lord knows despite it being his dream production for the last 30 years he probably hasn't been working on the script in all that time.

While I'm not excited it does help that T is totally into this show. Refers to it as her 'bible'. Her enthusiasm is (as always) catching.

🔮Cosmos🔮

Cosmos is a big ??? Parisai wrapped up yesterday and shuugoubi is coming on Tomorrow( July 6th). I'm assuming we'll see top announcements on Friday. I've been counting down for about three weeks now. It's an easier thing to fixate on than my own life.

Will Urara retire tomorrow? Will Makaze take her? Will Makaze take Madoka? Will Miyaruri be transferred in for the most awkward 20th anniversary of soragumi ever? WE WILL SOON KNOW.

🌙Moon🌙

Jeans for All is currently hip deep in rehearsal. Chisei mentioned in the blurb from rehearsal that they just finished up Act I. Twitter then proceeded to blow up with "WHAT?! GUYS THE SHOW OPENS SOON?!" Which made me laugh, Koike remains Koike. Some things will never change. Two hours late with half a script, Starbucks and the general agreeability of two week old gym socks.
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

I'm out. Well, in the process at least, moving everything to dreamwidth will take years at this rate.

Debating if I should use my dreamwidth or if I should open my own site. For now I'm importing over there as GLITRA, and I'll reevaluate next month on what to do with my translations and such.

Bah.

glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)
Kano Maria Farewell Talk with Asumi Rio
Graph February 2017 (amazon) | (hankyu books)

Kano: You are always busy, so thank you for specifically making time to talk to me.

Asumi: It’s like you are reading off a script (laughs)

Kano: Now that my dream of doing Manzai with you has come true, let’s look back on our memories

Read more... )
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)
MY HERO KAGEKI TALK

Writer/Director: Saitou Yoshimasa
Cast: Serika Toa, Hozuki An, Asazuki Kiwa, and Oto Kurisu


Saitou: This is Serika-kun’s second lead and her first lead in Tokyo so I feel a sense of joy and responsibility in serving as the head of this production. Now, Serika is really blooming, and I want her to be even larger so I created this show to show everyone a side of Serika that you’ve never seen before. As you can see from the poster, the characters in the play are a lot, aren’t they.
Read more... )
glitra: (Sabrina - Mattsu)
Reporter: Nana Kurara

It's time for this month's troupe report 🌸
Thank you for all your questions!!
I'll get your answers quickly✨
Read more... )
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

It was fantastic, I can't wait to see it again tomorrow!

glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

I'm starting the long and arduous project of cleaning my apartment out since as of April first the budget at the BOE rolls over.

Read more... )

The 105th

Apr. 1st, 2017 09:30 am
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

This poor kid man. Talk about some pressure.

edit: Friend watched a news article. She's just finished her seond year of high school and this was in fact her first time taking the exam.

105期

Mar. 31st, 2017 09:07 am
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

Yesterday was result announcement for TMS.

Read more... )
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

Takarazuka Revue's New Flower Troupe Top Musumeyaku, Senna Ayase.
Photo taken by Kawahira Ai in Takarazuka City

It's finally her time to shine | Flower Troupe's New Top Musumeyaku - Senna Ayase
Having slowly and steadily worked herself to the position of Top Musumeyaku, Flower Troupe's Senna Ayase assumes the title with her debut performance in the national tour production of “Romanesque Mask” and “EXCITER!! 2017” (March 18-20, Umeda Arts Theatre Main Hall in Osaka) This year, she enters her tenth year with the revue. "My parents said to me, 'You've done your best until now'. It's taken a lot of time, but it wasn't all in vain" she said, reflecting back.

Senna is from Miyagi Prefecture. When she was creating her stage name, one kanji was taken from Sendai and Natori City. "Until entering the Takarazuka Music School, I hadn't ever seen Takarazuka live. I want Takarazuka to be more known in my hometown too." she said. While in the middle of returning home in 2011, she felt the Great East Japan Earthquake. She was unsure about whether she should immediately go to perform at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre. "Acquaintances who survived the earthquake said to me 'I want to see your performance', and I realized that if you can take time to dream, especially in times of suffering, then your heart can be put at ease. It's really striking when everyone stands on stage holding the same feelings in their heart." she said looking back on the experience.

After assuming her new position, Top Star Asumi Rio said to her, "Don't do it alone. Let's have fun making our roles together." "I think our fans are looking forward to our synergy. Using all my experiences up until now, I want to believe in Asumi-san and follow her" she said with sparkling eyes.

Written by Tanaka Hiroko. Mainichi Newspaper. Osaka Evening Edition. (Original article)
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)


Hoshikaze Madoka, playing Elisabeth in the shinjin kouen production of Cosmos Troupe's Elisabeth.
Photo taken by Tanaka Hiroko in Takarazuka City

“I want to show how I've matured” Cosmos Troupe | Hoshikaze Madoka

Playing the heroine role in Cosmos Troupe’s shinjin kouen performance of Elisabeth (August 9th, Takarazuka Grand Theatre) is Hoshikaze Madoka, a musumeyaku in her third year with the Revue. “I’m aware that I'm not a great singer, but I want to show that I'm doing my best and that I've grown up a little,” she said with enthusiasm.

This is Hoshikaze’s second shinjin kouen heroine role, in addition to her heroine roles in both a Bow Hall show and a Umeda Arts Theatre Drama City show. At first glance, it seems she is sailing smoothly forward but she revealed, “I’m really inexperienced so my feelings of wanting to work hard rush ahead of me but my ability can’t quite follow In the rehearsals, it seems like every day I run into something I can't do, and frustration and troubles keep popping up.”

From her mother's influence she’s been a Takarazuka fan since she could remember. Even now she says watching the CS premium broadcast Takarazuka channel at home is her favorite way to relax. “Even on my days off, I don’t want to be far from Takarazuka,” she said.

In the main show, Hoshikaze plays the young crown prince Rudolf. It's a character who hungers for his mother's love and in his shadow of solitude chooses death, “From growing up until arriving at the decision of suicide, I provide the backdrop, so I really want to create an intensity.” Being blessed with these chances, she is steadily maturing.

Mainichi Newspaper. Osaka Evening Edition. (original article)
glitra: (Tomu - Bugs)

Takarazuka Revue Flower Troupe Star Serika Toa in Takarazuka city. Photo by Kawahira Ai

“Showing a new side of myself” Tackling the role of a Superhero | Flower Troupe - Serika Toa

The person considered to be the first to tackle the role of a superhero in Takarazuka history is Flower Troupe otokoyaku star, Serika Toa. She’s starring in My Hero in Osaka at the Umeda Arts Theatre Drama City April 2th through April 10th.

“This is a show unlike any other before. I want to receive strength from this role myself and show you a new side of Takarazuka” she said enthusiastically.

This is the story of a leading actor Noah, played by Serika. His life is rocked by scandal and he is given a fresh start playing a superhero in a special effects drama. As a masked hero, he’ll dare to be moved into action. “It feels good to unleash my special move and knock out my enemies,” she said laughing. It has lines that read like something from a manga, and ones that are a tad embarrassing. “With the magic of Takarazuka, if I can get a reaction from the audience, I'll be happy”.

This spring, Serika will be entering her 11th year in Takarazuka. “When I was an underclassmen, I was desperate to get the otokoyaku form down that my head and my body were stiff. Recently I've been able to relax onstage so I look forward to working with my partners and act with a real, raw feeling” she said.

Mainichi Newspaper. March 6th, 2017. Osaka Evening Edition (Original Article)

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