2015 | Cosmos Troupe | Portrait of the Heir - Bow Hall
Okay, rather belated, but that's how I like to roll.
Anyway, let us start with the plot summary from the takawiki page:
"The story unfolds in England in the beginning of the 20th century. The protagonist is a young noble called Charlie. Soon after his mother's death his father George married another woman called Vanessa, and Charlie severed relations with him. Now that his father has died too, Charlie comes back to the family mansion called Barrington House as a legal heir. But there are two obstacles: terms made in the father's will, and also Vanessa and her daughter Isabel trying to claim their rights to inherit."
This show closely followed this plot and it was very Takarazuka. I’m pretty sure most of the people reading this review right now could tell me how it ends *laughs*. Oh Takarazuka, never change. That being said I’m going to lightly go over the plot, but mostly skip it in favor of talking about actresses and their portrayal of their roles and certain scenes that struck me as fantastic. As usual, my opinions are my own. You don’t have to agree, I know that not everyone will.
Sakuragi Minato plays Charlie, and it was such a good choice for her. I don't know if this show was written for her, or not, but it played completely and utterly to her strengths. For me Zunkun isn't going to be one of those otokoyaku, the kind that stand on the stage and just let off this palpable aura of sex appeal. She just isn't that type. She reminds me too much of a muppet come to life. While normally these types aren't my type ((case and point here being Mirio)), this show made me finally want to support this child. She's actually really talented, and this show showcased it. It’s always hard to get a read on somebody in shinko. Yes, they are actually talented if they can pull off a good shinko performance, but part of that isn’t necessarily their own work. Some actresses are a better mimic than other. I like to see them in a role where they have their own freedom and their own ability to express the characters feelings. Sometimes they fall flat *cough* Coto’s Scarlet *cough*, other times they shine. This time, it was a case of shining bright and true.
Zunkun played Charlie, the main character. Charlie is a young man whose father married directly following his beloved mother’s death, and he estranged himself from his family completely while away at school. We meet up with Charlie as he returns to his family home after his father’s death. Charlie is very clearly a young man who is very, very hurt and in some ways wears his heart on his sleeve, while attempting to hide it under a layer of “devil may care” attitude.
The opening scene is where Zunkun shines for me. She nails this mix of vulnerability and ‘fuck you’ vibe. Charlie is welcomed into his family home by his delighted staff, to find himself in the sitting room with him, the family butler, his Grandmother and the attorney. Charlie leans back and lights a cigarette and the battle of the wills is on because Phillips the butler (played by Matsukaze Akira) is utterly agast and steals the cigarette out of his mouth. Charlie of course will have none of this, this is his house now after all, so he chases after him. Cue a rather humours battle of the wills. This trend of Zunkun being an adorable but obnoxious little shit starts.
This is interrupted when Vanessa, his father’s new wife appears. She is, understandably, upset that Charlie arrives now, after his father has died. “Where were you when he was calling for you… “ she asked. Charlie is both upset and angry with himself and with Vanessa, the woman who had seemingly come between him and his father. Zunkun plays this beautifully, every single time the word mistress comes out of her mouth you can hear the contempt behind it. She would forward, resting her arms on her knees with and practically spit the word out of his mouth with venom. This set the tone for the rest of the show, and it only got better from there. Her expressions of anger, confusion and sadness throughout the show just break your heart. My words will do them no justice.
Junya Chitose plays Charlie’s stepmother, Isabel and is on the receiving end of Charlie’s childish anger and spite. Saeko, as no surprise blew this role out of the water. She has this steel in her that lends itself to these type of roles. She was the perfect mix of barely contained anger and frustration at not getting Charlie to see what was before him. She wasn’t a mistress, she was a wife. And now she’s faced in the improbable situation of having her life be dictated by a barely legal young man who so clearly hates her.
Hoshikaze Madoka plays Isabel, Vanessa’s child from her previous marriage. She lives at the manor with Isabel and was much loved by Charlie’s father. I am going to be completely upfront right now and admit that I am so very biased here. This child stole my heart somewhere back during Aida and hasn’t given it back. I don’t think she will, I think she is going to keep it until the hopefully (not) bitter end. Anyway, I found as a ken-2 she did an AMAZING job. She’s fresh off both her first shinko and her first shinko lead and she’s talented enough to justify it. She and Zunkun played off each other brilliantly. Charlie the young lord come back and Isabel, the girl who had been here all along. They spar with words the first time they meet and it makes my heart sing just thinking about. Plus she plays the piano. And any piano who plays the piano onstage wins my instant love. Thus far I’ve seen two people actually play, and some people fail at faking it convincingly. All my love and gratitude to Serika Toa and Hoshikaze Madoka.
My favorite Madoka scene is one in which she sneaks down in her mother’s dress to Charlie’s party where he is meant to choose a bride. Everyone had gone to dinner already, but Charlie’s choice was weighing heavily on him and he stayed behind. Madoka asks for a waltz… and they waltz. The way her eyes sparkle as they look up at Zunkun. *holds my heart* I am broken for this child.
Sorahane Riku played Harold, the best friend of Charlie, and the love interest to the reluctant Isabel. This child *shakes first* this child has finally shed her horrible overacting from her shinko days. She’s shed it slowly, oh so slowly and might I add a touch painfully. I’m so sad to see it happen after Aizuki Hikaru has won the battle for san-bante. I was always on team Riku, and I’ll keep wagging that flag around when I get a chance. I actually believe the words I sent to a good friend after I saw the show the first time was “FUCKING FUCK! FUCKING SORAHANE RIKU”. She blew this role out of the water, which is honestly the first time I can honestly say that about this child. The combo of Harold, Charlie and Isabel was fantastic. Harold wants to spend time with Isabel, but Isabel is both coming to have feelings about Charlie and wants to avoid Harold. The palpable awkward atmosphere was fantastic. I was impressed with how well they worked together. Riku still can’t sing particularly well, which is a shame. *sigh* So close Riku, so close.
Yuuma Rin plays the Grandmother. Very typical tough as steel matriarch who wants her way, Yuuma Rin could play these roles in her sleep so I found her pretty meh overall. Her costumes were fantastic though.
Aishiro Mao plays the bordering on spinsterdom sister to Harold, Sorahane Riku. While I didn’t like her character overall, I have to admit that Aishiro played it well. This is the first time I’ve ever really noticed her in anything which isn’t surprising since I took a good three years off of baby-stalking soragumi. But I’m back in the game now *rolls up sleeves* She played the bookish sister to perfection. Hopelessly stuck in books, particularly Wuthering Heights, she played the emotional conviction of somebody hoping to give ‘real love’ a chance to thrive. I will keep my eyes open for her next time.
Honorable mention goes to Haruse Ouki as the sexiest member of the bow cast. She didn’t have a particularly large role, but she spent most of the show attepting to seduce her way into the audience’s pants and one of the maids. It worked. Dishonorable mention goes to Manami Hikaru as that child went super blonde but didn't tone down her makeup so she appeared as a peppy umpa loompa in a servant costume.
This show was written and directed by Tabuchi Daisuke, which is one of the few Takarazuka playwrights that I've seen all of their own work. In this case I feel like I've seen this director grow in the last three years… by leaps and bounds. His debut work with Takarazuka was Victorian Jazz, which while not being bad wasn't particularly inspired either. It was cute, it was catchy and fluffy. I enjoyed it as a viewer, but it wasn't a work of art. His second show was Sanctuary, which is the only Takarazuka show that I have ever seen and thought to myself "that was not even close to worth the ticket price". When a Japanese acquaintance of mine could only come up with ".. Yeah… so there wasn't even a finale", you know that it is in fact that bad. He was overambitious and it suffered from a lack of music and too much plot, while simultaneously not having enough for act two. Anyway, I digress…
This show was a happy medium between these two. He proved he can ride that fine line between "SRZ SHIT" and "TAKARAZUKA". This show was both cute and fluffy but still managed to have a decent plot. It's a little rough still, but what Takarazuka work isn’t. The love between Isabel and Charlie really seems to be based on a few conversations, which while isn’t completely unrealistic for this time period was just a tiche too unbelievable. There were also a few song choices in which I can find fault with. At the end of act one he pulls a ballad out of somewhere? It didn't mesh with what he had set up. I make a frowney face in your direction sensei *puts on serious grumpy face*
Overall this show was highly watchable, highly understandable and well worth the wait for it to air on sky stage. 7/10 Stars
Anyway, let us start with the plot summary from the takawiki page:
"The story unfolds in England in the beginning of the 20th century. The protagonist is a young noble called Charlie. Soon after his mother's death his father George married another woman called Vanessa, and Charlie severed relations with him. Now that his father has died too, Charlie comes back to the family mansion called Barrington House as a legal heir. But there are two obstacles: terms made in the father's will, and also Vanessa and her daughter Isabel trying to claim their rights to inherit."
This show closely followed this plot and it was very Takarazuka. I’m pretty sure most of the people reading this review right now could tell me how it ends *laughs*. Oh Takarazuka, never change. That being said I’m going to lightly go over the plot, but mostly skip it in favor of talking about actresses and their portrayal of their roles and certain scenes that struck me as fantastic. As usual, my opinions are my own. You don’t have to agree, I know that not everyone will.
Sakuragi Minato plays Charlie, and it was such a good choice for her. I don't know if this show was written for her, or not, but it played completely and utterly to her strengths. For me Zunkun isn't going to be one of those otokoyaku, the kind that stand on the stage and just let off this palpable aura of sex appeal. She just isn't that type. She reminds me too much of a muppet come to life. While normally these types aren't my type ((case and point here being Mirio)), this show made me finally want to support this child. She's actually really talented, and this show showcased it. It’s always hard to get a read on somebody in shinko. Yes, they are actually talented if they can pull off a good shinko performance, but part of that isn’t necessarily their own work. Some actresses are a better mimic than other. I like to see them in a role where they have their own freedom and their own ability to express the characters feelings. Sometimes they fall flat *cough* Coto’s Scarlet *cough*, other times they shine. This time, it was a case of shining bright and true.
Zunkun played Charlie, the main character. Charlie is a young man whose father married directly following his beloved mother’s death, and he estranged himself from his family completely while away at school. We meet up with Charlie as he returns to his family home after his father’s death. Charlie is very clearly a young man who is very, very hurt and in some ways wears his heart on his sleeve, while attempting to hide it under a layer of “devil may care” attitude.
The opening scene is where Zunkun shines for me. She nails this mix of vulnerability and ‘fuck you’ vibe. Charlie is welcomed into his family home by his delighted staff, to find himself in the sitting room with him, the family butler, his Grandmother and the attorney. Charlie leans back and lights a cigarette and the battle of the wills is on because Phillips the butler (played by Matsukaze Akira) is utterly agast and steals the cigarette out of his mouth. Charlie of course will have none of this, this is his house now after all, so he chases after him. Cue a rather humours battle of the wills. This trend of Zunkun being an adorable but obnoxious little shit starts.
This is interrupted when Vanessa, his father’s new wife appears. She is, understandably, upset that Charlie arrives now, after his father has died. “Where were you when he was calling for you… “ she asked. Charlie is both upset and angry with himself and with Vanessa, the woman who had seemingly come between him and his father. Zunkun plays this beautifully, every single time the word mistress comes out of her mouth you can hear the contempt behind it. She would forward, resting her arms on her knees with and practically spit the word out of his mouth with venom. This set the tone for the rest of the show, and it only got better from there. Her expressions of anger, confusion and sadness throughout the show just break your heart. My words will do them no justice.
Junya Chitose plays Charlie’s stepmother, Isabel and is on the receiving end of Charlie’s childish anger and spite. Saeko, as no surprise blew this role out of the water. She has this steel in her that lends itself to these type of roles. She was the perfect mix of barely contained anger and frustration at not getting Charlie to see what was before him. She wasn’t a mistress, she was a wife. And now she’s faced in the improbable situation of having her life be dictated by a barely legal young man who so clearly hates her.
Hoshikaze Madoka plays Isabel, Vanessa’s child from her previous marriage. She lives at the manor with Isabel and was much loved by Charlie’s father. I am going to be completely upfront right now and admit that I am so very biased here. This child stole my heart somewhere back during Aida and hasn’t given it back. I don’t think she will, I think she is going to keep it until the hopefully (not) bitter end. Anyway, I found as a ken-2 she did an AMAZING job. She’s fresh off both her first shinko and her first shinko lead and she’s talented enough to justify it. She and Zunkun played off each other brilliantly. Charlie the young lord come back and Isabel, the girl who had been here all along. They spar with words the first time they meet and it makes my heart sing just thinking about. Plus she plays the piano. And any piano who plays the piano onstage wins my instant love. Thus far I’ve seen two people actually play, and some people fail at faking it convincingly. All my love and gratitude to Serika Toa and Hoshikaze Madoka.
My favorite Madoka scene is one in which she sneaks down in her mother’s dress to Charlie’s party where he is meant to choose a bride. Everyone had gone to dinner already, but Charlie’s choice was weighing heavily on him and he stayed behind. Madoka asks for a waltz… and they waltz. The way her eyes sparkle as they look up at Zunkun. *holds my heart* I am broken for this child.
Sorahane Riku played Harold, the best friend of Charlie, and the love interest to the reluctant Isabel. This child *shakes first* this child has finally shed her horrible overacting from her shinko days. She’s shed it slowly, oh so slowly and might I add a touch painfully. I’m so sad to see it happen after Aizuki Hikaru has won the battle for san-bante. I was always on team Riku, and I’ll keep wagging that flag around when I get a chance. I actually believe the words I sent to a good friend after I saw the show the first time was “FUCKING FUCK! FUCKING SORAHANE RIKU”. She blew this role out of the water, which is honestly the first time I can honestly say that about this child. The combo of Harold, Charlie and Isabel was fantastic. Harold wants to spend time with Isabel, but Isabel is both coming to have feelings about Charlie and wants to avoid Harold. The palpable awkward atmosphere was fantastic. I was impressed with how well they worked together. Riku still can’t sing particularly well, which is a shame. *sigh* So close Riku, so close.
Yuuma Rin plays the Grandmother. Very typical tough as steel matriarch who wants her way, Yuuma Rin could play these roles in her sleep so I found her pretty meh overall. Her costumes were fantastic though.
Aishiro Mao plays the bordering on spinsterdom sister to Harold, Sorahane Riku. While I didn’t like her character overall, I have to admit that Aishiro played it well. This is the first time I’ve ever really noticed her in anything which isn’t surprising since I took a good three years off of baby-stalking soragumi. But I’m back in the game now *rolls up sleeves* She played the bookish sister to perfection. Hopelessly stuck in books, particularly Wuthering Heights, she played the emotional conviction of somebody hoping to give ‘real love’ a chance to thrive. I will keep my eyes open for her next time.
Honorable mention goes to Haruse Ouki as the sexiest member of the bow cast. She didn’t have a particularly large role, but she spent most of the show attepting to seduce her way into the audience’s pants and one of the maids. It worked. Dishonorable mention goes to Manami Hikaru as that child went super blonde but didn't tone down her makeup so she appeared as a peppy umpa loompa in a servant costume.
This show was written and directed by Tabuchi Daisuke, which is one of the few Takarazuka playwrights that I've seen all of their own work. In this case I feel like I've seen this director grow in the last three years… by leaps and bounds. His debut work with Takarazuka was Victorian Jazz, which while not being bad wasn't particularly inspired either. It was cute, it was catchy and fluffy. I enjoyed it as a viewer, but it wasn't a work of art. His second show was Sanctuary, which is the only Takarazuka show that I have ever seen and thought to myself "that was not even close to worth the ticket price". When a Japanese acquaintance of mine could only come up with ".. Yeah… so there wasn't even a finale", you know that it is in fact that bad. He was overambitious and it suffered from a lack of music and too much plot, while simultaneously not having enough for act two. Anyway, I digress…
This show was a happy medium between these two. He proved he can ride that fine line between "SRZ SHIT" and "TAKARAZUKA". This show was both cute and fluffy but still managed to have a decent plot. It's a little rough still, but what Takarazuka work isn’t. The love between Isabel and Charlie really seems to be based on a few conversations, which while isn’t completely unrealistic for this time period was just a tiche too unbelievable. There were also a few song choices in which I can find fault with. At the end of act one he pulls a ballad out of somewhere? It didn't mesh with what he had set up. I make a frowney face in your direction sensei *puts on serious grumpy face*
Overall this show was highly watchable, highly understandable and well worth the wait for it to air on sky stage. 7/10 Stars