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Tale of Genji / Melodia
Tale of Genji.
The Tale of Genji, the one of the most famous pieces of Japanese literature. I knew from this start that this show was going to be a challenge for me. I’m not a huge fan of nihonmono shows, and I had tried to read this book years ago and failed. I did however know that it was going to be gorgeous. It was both of these things, gorgeous and a challenge to sit through.
It’s not that it was hard to understand, rather it was that I found the plot distinctly uninteresting. After the first time I saw the show I started mentally referring to it as “The Tale of Genji’s Wandering Dick”, because that’s what the plot is. I found Genji to be a selfish, jerk who lacked anything that resonated with me aside from a shared love of Murasaki no Ue (as an adult of course). I should note that Murasaki no Ue was played by Ousaki Ayaka, so I am SO biased. I think it an interesting choice for Mirio to play Genji. Because while she is pretty, I find that she lacked the charisma for me. I still don’t understand why all of these women were taking such great risks to be with him. Nothing about him screamed “I am worth risking scandal and everything I hold dear to get me a piece of that action”. *shrug* I know why Chigi didn’t get it, but at least Chigi would have been even remotely beleiveable as a philanderning butthead. Kano Maria got the shaft in terms of stage time. She plays Genji’s stepmother/true love. While her presence is meant to be felt as we follow Genji through his string of lovers, she doesn’t actually spend that much time on stage.
The rest of the cast was fantastic. Haruhi Urara played young Murasaki no Ue, which was predictably adorable and continued her trend of playing kids roles. Ousaki Ayaka was fantastic as a beautiful and intelligent Murisaki no Ue. Tenma played The Minster of the Right and obsessed over how to make her eyes smaller. I’m pretty sure that by the end of the run she was just walking around onstage with her eyes closed. Mebuki Yukina remains the uta-hime of Flower troupe and I am so happy she got so much time to sing in this show. Yuzuka Rei makes an awful woman. Serika Toa continues to grow and develop as nibante. Everytime I see her I am delighted with how much she has grown, and how I can still see the ridges of Tomu's fingerprint on her development as an otokoyaku.
Overall: If nihonomono are your things, you have a fondness for Mirio and or the Tale of Genji then I could suggest this to you. Otherwise I would suggest you skip it unless a skystage copy drops in your lap for free.
Melodia.
I feel like Melodia had the downside of coming after Fantasia. Anything was going to see pale in comparison that the revue that wiped out all the other competition for “Best Show of the Year 2015”. It wasn’t bad, it just also wasn’t particularly good. It was comprised of longer scenes, and fewer sets and I found that it dragged a little bit for me. Downtown Jazz was a good scene, but it just kept going on forever. Aren Touma is totally a scene –stealer in that show though. The Conquistor number was good, but also felt like it was unnecessarily long. The chuzume was all red and vaguely latin-y. The songs weren’t particularly catchy, but they were good. My friends are complaining about the music cuts on the DVD, which is unfortunate but unavoidable.
Overall: If you are a Flower Troupe fan you will probably enjoy it. It won’t hold a candle to Fantasia, but nothing will at this point. Everyone gets a chance to shine in the long numbers and the music is catchy. But for this I would wait for SkyStage too, just for the music.
Can we talk about how I am delighted that Hankyu is being dragged kicking and screaming into the technological age by the new chairman of the board? It's beautiful. I've imbedded a totally legit youtube video uploaded by Hankyu. It's like we are living in an AU.
Edited for Clarity!
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I agree that Fantasia was wonderful. The Otokoyaku dance has become my favorite tux dance to date.
I'm ok with 1 or 2 music substitutions but not 3 or 4. Having to substitute the music in the Tux dance is inexcusable.
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Pretty much. XD I like the Tamo!Hanagumi version of this, but less for the plot and more for the pretty (in both costume and singing), but not so much interest in a new one, especially as Mirio basically does nothing for me ...
I approve of this Hankyu AU with digital stuff. Be interesting to see where they go with that -- and what issues they run into with copyright as they feel their way out, possibly?