Fangirling-17: Gekidan EXILE Stage Play
This entry is posted for Yosuke’s wish-to-be big sis, my friend Cya, who watched Gekidan EXILE’s 4 stage plays and didn’t really get the stories because of language matter. Since I’m blessed with better understanding of Japanese language, aside that I am a generous person *LMAO*, I’ll enlighten you Cya~~ XD
Please be kind as to excuse some mistakes that MIGHT appear in my self-made summary, my Japanese is on basic level and it is highly likely that I MIGHT mistake some translations due to my limited knowledge. In addition, the summary will be brief, matching how little I understand the plot and how lazy I am to type all the details XP. So, here comes the 1st of the 4 summaries.
Yubae Hachigo
3 professor buddies (Jonte, Halu, Sho) experimenting on creating a new extraordinary living being in the middle of a mountain, get a detective (Yuuta) sniffing their tail because of the said experiment is considered fishy even since the the case of a missing high-schooler erupted. Fortunately, Jonte who is currently in charge, succesfully derails Yuuta onto believing that they are clean and sends him away. In fact, the professor trio held a high schooler (Yosuke), along with many others, captive, probably as an experiment rat or their creation’s meal. The presumably the 3 professors’ financier (Aki) visits them and meets 1 of the 3 professors (Sho). Since no other is on the lab, Aki takes his leave because Sho seems to lose track of the experiment when he is away. With Aki leaving, here comes Halu. The 2 professors idle chatter turns into a revelation of Halu’s purpose of creating the creature which is for the sake of their (if I’m not mistaken) deceased friend. The creature is called Hachigo. Hachigo turns out to be untameable and attacks everything in sight, scaring them alive to the point of hysteria. Jonte and Aki who arrive at the scene, tries to check on Hachigo. After several attempts, Aki and Halu end up dissagreeing, the former wants Hachigo dead while the latter considers Hachigo a god. Sho is on Aki’s side and tries to reason Halu into giving up on their inhumane experiment, but to no avail. To gain pity, Halu faking a suicide only to anger Aki some more.
Aki locks Halu up in a cage to prevent the insistant professor from doing anything funny regarding the Hachigo. Knowing that a detective is close to discover their experiment, Halu suggests on sending the detective to death as Hachigo’s meal. Aki highly disapproves of it when Sho can do nothing but accepting Halu’s suggestion, as he always does. Suddenly, Yuuta comes in a panic for he is chased by something he dubs as a monster. Aki and Yuuta go outside to check on the said monster after Aki gives Halu the cage key to unlock himself. Gaining his freedom, Halu persuades Sho to continue the experiment and by ‘persuade’ here is to the point he threatens to slit his wrist open if Sho refuses to go with his plan. With Yuuta and Aki back, the 4 form a plan to get away from the monster. Yuuta is to shoot it with his gun and Aki is to distract the monster. The plan is busted. Aki is hurt and Yuuta falls victim of the monster all thanks to Halu’s cunning plan, obviously because Halu holds a grudge on Aki who beats him before. The trio survivors quarreled again, blaming one another for the misfortune. Jonte arrives carrying a sack with Yosuke inside and then leaves with the 3 others. The still alive Yuuta comes out from Hachigo’s lair, even with his limb missing he tries to save Yosuke. He changes his mind halfway since the 4 men come back in and attacks those 4 in revenge. His weakened body and mind fail him, he dies in the hand of Aki and is thrown into Hachigo’s lair. Yosuke follows soon after. Aki sticks to his plan on getting rid of Hachigo in order not to dirty their already dirtied hands, only to fail because Halu outwitting him. Aki is next to be sent into Hachigo’s lair. When Aki is in, Yosuke is out, already fucked in the head. Jonte is fed up with the situation and, unlike his old passive and obedient self, voices out his thought and begs everyone to save Aki. Jonte snatches the gun in Halu’s hand, sends him back to the cage, and forces Yosuke to save Aki. Yosuke happily returns inside after he takes the gun with him, resulting in Aki’s death. In desperation, Jonte discards his lab coat and leaves the compound, blaming his friends for all that happen. Yosuke comes out, alive and kicking. He frees Halu and gives him the gun. Turns out Yosuke is no longer himself, he is possessed (probably) by Hachigo(‘s mind). Yosuke’s voice is distorted and he acts inhumanely, completely thanking Halu for creating him and sharing his mind through their shared telepathy. Yosuke shows off his power which scares Sho. However, the pleasure is only the beginning. Yosuke, now in Hachigo’s control, rebels against his creator. Halu finally realizes what Hachigo really is, a demon. Not wanting to die, Halu shoots Yosuke, the possessed high-schooler dies that instant. Unfortunately, the host may be dead, but Hachigo is still alive. Halu finally comes to his senses, admitting his wrong doings and attempts to kill himself only to find that the gun has no more bullet in it after trapping Sho in the cage. In the end, no matter how hard Sho tries to reason him, Halu is persistent on saving Sho by gulping down the poison that is meant for Hachigo and sends himself into the monster’s lair, hoping that the vile concoction will kill Hachigo the moment it devours him.
Flashback starts. The trio in their younger time exchanges their vision and reaches a mutual goal for a better future. The thing is, their dream remains as a dream for the future they envisioned does not come true.
After cast list, there is this magnificent dance and taiko performance by Gekidan EXILE members. I love the taiko performance!!!! And it will be Gekidan EXILE’s routine in every single play it has. That way, no wonder EXILE HIRO promotes Gekidan EXILE in Fantasy Live Tour 2010 by performing taiko. The performance is even more entrancing there~~ *die happy*
In my opinion, Yubae Hachigo is a complete play. There are plot, fun, trill, tension, and tragedy all thrown up together in a well put scenario. The ending may sadden some fans who favor good ending, but you’ll get used to that kind of ending once you’re done watching the other 3 plays and might share my opinion thinking that that ending is not actually bad. Rather than dubbing it as a bad ending, I’d rather name it ‘an ending that will make you think’ and I do think a lot after watching. To put is simply, Yubae Hachigo is not just a mere entertainment to past some time. It is a life lesson hidden by some will to entertain, enveloped by an artistry of literary form namely play.
I think that is all for Yubae Hachigo. Next sum will be Roku Akutou. I’ll tell you beforehand that the plot of Roku Akutou is, I think, the most complicated out of the 4 and the dialogue is in ancient Japanese (example: ‘thee’ for ‘you’ in English). Hence, I undertsand almost nothing of the plot despite the so many times I watch it coz it is my favorite. *sigh*
Before I forget, this is the latest Gekidan EXILE members’ pic minus the 3 new members.
Finally took a pic together!!! *throw confetti*
-Hikari.EisenWaltz-