Oh yeah, real life!
So I saw a Takarazuka production. I don't know that much about Takarazuka, like compared to bangles, but it was good. I'd watched a documentary about them in my Japanese Culture class, but this was my first show. I saw "Black Lizard." The story was a little shallow. I didn't see evidence of the feelings people professed, so the romances seemed a little pastede-on. And the whole "OH NO MY FIANCE IS MY BROTHER!" thing just had me trying to stifle my laughter, because really. After she committed suicide, though, the brother's grief was the most emotionally affecting moment. I found the plot overly and needlessly complicated and distracting, and I found the character development weak.
The singing was good, though I wish there had been more part-singing. The dancing was the part they were best at. The otokoyaku were hot, but it wasn't a sexy show, so there wasn't as much hotness as I was hoping for.
The following musical revue was "Tuxedo Jazz." It was a little boring because there was no plot or real characters, just random musical and dance numbers. But they did a good job with those numbers. The scenery and costumes throughout were impressive. Maybe I should watch a troupe better suited to my tastes.
A few of the otokoyaku in the chorus (at least, they were wearing suits--I think they were otokoyaku) had clearly visible breasts. And the homeless children were of completely indeterminate gender--but probably boys? Anyway that ambiguity was exciting.
Also I bought a DVD there because I am WEAK. Appartement Cinema. We'll see how good it is.
I went with two just-graduated girl students. One of them has a mother who is a *huge* fan, and a little sister who likes Takarazuka too. She cried when the main woman committed suicide, hee. I was mostly just rolling my eyes at the contrivedness by that point. After we went to the show, we went to Umeda and played in the Hep Five mall, riding the ferris wheel and doing purikura. It was fun. I used Japanese all day, but I feel like my Japanese was sooo bad. Christ. We made tentative plans to go again to watch "Elizabeth."
Speaking of musical theatre, I highly recommend "Jerry Springer: the Opera." It's on google video. Go! Watch! Fly, my ducks!
The singing was good, though I wish there had been more part-singing. The dancing was the part they were best at. The otokoyaku were hot, but it wasn't a sexy show, so there wasn't as much hotness as I was hoping for.
The following musical revue was "Tuxedo Jazz." It was a little boring because there was no plot or real characters, just random musical and dance numbers. But they did a good job with those numbers. The scenery and costumes throughout were impressive. Maybe I should watch a troupe better suited to my tastes.
A few of the otokoyaku in the chorus (at least, they were wearing suits--I think they were otokoyaku) had clearly visible breasts. And the homeless children were of completely indeterminate gender--but probably boys? Anyway that ambiguity was exciting.
Also I bought a DVD there because I am WEAK. Appartement Cinema. We'll see how good it is.
I went with two just-graduated girl students. One of them has a mother who is a *huge* fan, and a little sister who likes Takarazuka too. She cried when the main woman committed suicide, hee. I was mostly just rolling my eyes at the contrivedness by that point. After we went to the show, we went to Umeda and played in the Hep Five mall, riding the ferris wheel and doing purikura. It was fun. I used Japanese all day, but I feel like my Japanese was sooo bad. Christ. We made tentative plans to go again to watch "Elizabeth."
Speaking of musical theatre, I highly recommend "Jerry Springer: the Opera." It's on google video. Go! Watch! Fly, my ducks!